XM 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


■a  Bi 


25 
2.2 


11:25  i  j.4 


£  i;&   12.0 


I'- 

'1.6 


^Sciences 
Corporalion 


23  WBT  MAIN  STREIT 

WiBSTIR.N.Y.  I45M 

(716)«72-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canaitiian  Institute  for  Historical  iVIicroreprociuctions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microraproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


Th 
to 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  olitain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


S    Coloured  covers/ 
Couvarture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagda 

□   Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculAe 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  da  couverture  manque 

□    Coioured  maps/ 
Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


n 


D 


n 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

I  ight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  la  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 

II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  iorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  &uppl6mentdires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleui  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


I — I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dicolordes-  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 

Showthrough, 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  indgaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  rnaterii 
Comprend  iu  matdriel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I — j  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I — I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I — I  Pages  detached/ 

I      I  Showthrough, 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totaiemant  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6ti  filmies  6  nouveau  de  fafon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th 
po 
of 
fill 


Or 
be 
thi 
sic 
oti 
fir 
si( 
or 


Til 

sh 
Tl 

wl 

M 
dil 
en 
be 
rit 
re 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

18X  22X 


The  copy  filmed  here  het  been  reproduced  thenkt 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  griice  A  la 
gAnArosltA  de: 

La  bibllothdque  des  Archives 
pubiiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  M  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compts  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmA.  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shnll  contain  the  symbol  —►(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  loft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAr  sent  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  emproints 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  ta 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
dlmpj-ession  ou  d'illustratior  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  fttre 
filmte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  6tre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  ciichA.  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1  2  3 


1 


6 


SSS^   ,,..;.  ...?r^.J  VIII I    M    ^^^.Ji..^.,jpi«.j, .  .-,.1  -  .    <■ 


.V 


AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


f-  i 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS    TO   THE    DUKI: 
DE  MIREPOIX,  1756. 


(From  (he  Beport  of  the  Historical  ICsauoripta  Commlaeion  of  the  Amerioan 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVBRNMBNT  PBINTINa  OFFICE 
ISflT. 


''•^f--  -'    ■i,i^~^-:i*-»;ii-&l_^ 


ttib 


5a»e*««SBai 


^Jl 


INTERCEPTED  LETTERS  TO  THE  DUKE  DE  MIREPOIXa756. 

Before  bis  resignation  from  the  Commission,  Dr.  Donglas 
Brymner,  Archivist  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  selected  from 
the  materials  imder  his  command  the  following  letters,  and  had 
them  copied  for  the  Commission.    The  following  iutrodnction 
18  due  to  him.    The  chairman  of  the  Commission  has  appended 
a  lew  footnotes.     To  him  the  letters  appear  to  have  been 
written  by  some  one  who  had  a  fair  but  not  an  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  what  was  going  on,  who  held  no  important  co.nmand, 
and  who,  as  the  Earl  of  Halifax  conjectures  in  No.  10  of  the 
series,  was  an  Irishman.     It  is  important  as  well  as  interest- 
ing to  observe  what  imperfect  information  the  Newcastle  (Jov- 
ernment  had  as  to  events,  preparations,  and  conditions  in 
America. 


In  the  final  struggle  for  supremacy  on  the  northern  part  of 
this  continent  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  on  the 
one  side  and  France  on  the  other,  which  culminated  in  the  con- 
quest of  Canada  in  17G0,  the  success  in  the  first  instance  was 
largely  on  the  side  of  the  French.    The  defeat  of  Braddock 
and  his  death  in  1755,  the  capture  of  Oswego  in  1756,  with  the 
capture  or  destruction  of  the  British  fleet  there,  whidi  gave 
the  command  of  Lake  Ontario  to  the  French;  these  and  sub- 
sequent events  of  a  similar  nature  gave  confidence  to  the 
French  and  led  to  the  adhesion  of  the  waiters  on  Providence 
who  are  always  on  the  winning  side.    On  both  sides  there 
were  serious  drawbacks  to  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war 
On  the  side  of  the  French  there  was  the  amazing  corruption 
which  prevailed,  the  robberies  committed  by  all  grades  in  the 
public  service,  robberies  by  which  the  officials,  from  Bigot,  the 
intendant,  downward,  in  every  branch  of  the  service  accumu- 
lated immense  fortunes.     Such  conduct  was  the  rule  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  so  that  the  -iccess  of  the  French  troops 
m  the  field  is  almost  wonderful.     On  the  other  side  were 
divided  councils,  and  generals  in  many  cases  lar  from  efficient 
660 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


ecA 


in  a  style  of  warfare  to  wliicih  they  were  unac(!ustoine(l  ami 
apiin-st  which  they  were  tlieretbio  unable  to  take  precaution/. 
The  «liftlculty  of  manniug  the  navy  was  extreme,  sailors  desert- 
ing from  8hii)8  of  war  iiutl  transports  in  crowds  to  man  the 
jnivateers,  the  ])ri/e  money  lu'injjj  for  New  York  alone  not  less 
than  £200,01)0  sterling,  and  the  sailors  being  harbored  in  the 
seaport  towns  by  the  iidiabitants.  It  was  only  by  the  aid  of 
the  militjiry  that  they  coidd  be  secured  in  New  York  and  that 
Sir  Charles  Hardy's  Heet  was  able  to  sail  irom  that  port.  Nor 
was  this  all  that  the  British  fontes  had  to  contend  with,  as 
Lord  Loudoun,  writing  to  Titt  in  June,  1757,  reported  that  tlie 
French  received  from  all  quarters  information  of  every  move- 
ment in  the  colonies.  These  and  other  facts  give  a  greater 
color  of  probability  to  the  authenticity  of  the  intercepted  letters 
addressed  to  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix,  although  the  identity  of 
the  writer  could  not  be  discovered. 

In  the  letter  dated  the  12th  of  January,  1756,  the  writer 
states  that  he  has  no  doubt  of  obtaining  the  services  of  Ger- 
raaiis  in  the  United  States  on  behalf  of  the  French,  and  this  is 
confirmed  by  the  statement  of  an  Onondaga  Indian  made  to 
Sir  William  Johnson,  that  the  Germans  of  Burnettield  had  sent 
by  an  Oneida  to  the  French  governor  of  Canada  an  otter  of 
their  services.  In  a  letter  from  Capt.  John  Butler  to  Sir 
William  Johnson,  dated  in  March,  1757,  the  place  from  which 
this  letter  was  sent  is  called  the  "Great  Flatts,"  and  it  is  said 
that  Capt.  Joost  Petrie  wrote  the  letter  which  was  sent  to 
Canada.  In  Wraxall's  letter  it  is  called  German  Flats;  all 
three  names,  Burnetfleld,  Great  Flatts,  and  German  Flats,  no 
doubt  refer  to  the  same  place.  The  French  neutrals,  also,  in 
Pennsylvaria,  evidently  encouraged  by  the  success  of  the 
French  at  tlie  opening  of  the  war,  threatened  that  they  would 
go  to  their  countrymen  in  the  back  country,  and  that  tliey 
would  all  Join  the  French,  as  they  looked  on  themselves  as 
French  subjects. 

The  efforts  made  to  trace  the  writer  of  the  letters  addressed 
to  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix  seem  to  have  been  unsuccessful,  as, 
although  indications  were  obtained,  no  proper  means  appear 
to  have  been  takeii  to  follow  up  the  pursuit.  The  description 
by  the  writer  of  the  letters  of  his  own  position  was  evidently 
given  to  mislead;  otherwise  there  would  have  been  no  difficulty 
in  discovering  who  he  was. 

Lord  Loudoun  was  recalled,  but  his  successor  was  most 


% 


f 


ec2 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL    ASSOCIATION. 


unfortunate  in  his  (iist  openitions.  The  tlrst  jjleam  of  impor- 
tant success  was  the  takiug  of  Loiiisbo'Tg  in  17r»8.  It  is 
doubtful,  liowevMT,  whether  that  wouhl  have  fallen  so  easily 
but  for  the  effects  of  the  nefarious  couiluct  of  IJigot  and  his 
coufe<lerates.  Next  year  Niagara  was  taken,  and  in  the  same 
year  Quebec  fell ;  the  commanders  of  both  forces  dying  from 
their  wounds — the  one  at  the  moment  of  victory,  the  other 
shortly  after  his  defeat.  Fn  1760  Montreal  fell,  and  with  it  all 
Canada,  removing  from  the  colonies  the  black  danger  cloud 
that  had  so  long  threatened  theuj,  and  from  which  had  so  often 
proceeded  dire  ettfecits  on  the  lives,  property,  and  peisons  of  the 
unfortunate  inh.abitants — killed,  scalped,  or  taken  priKoners. 
The  power  of  France  in  this  country  was  broken,  and  the 
settlers  and  inhabitants  of  New  England  could  now  rest 
undisturbed  by  these  attacks  from  the  French  and  Indians  to 
which  they  had  been  hitherto  continually  exposed. 

The  do(!uments  given  here  from  the  Cauadiiin  Archives  are 
transcripts  from  those  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London, 
where  they  form  part  of  the  series  "America  and  West  Indies" 
from  volume  82  onward. 


1.  HENRY  FOX'  TO  THE  EARL  OF  LOUDOUN.^ 

Secret.]  Whitehall,  May  7*"  1750 

My  Lord, 

I  hav'3  the  King's  commands  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  with 
what  has  been  done,  in  consequence  of  Two  very  extraordinary 
intercepted  Letters,  from  an  unknown  Person,  in  America, 
addressed  to  the  Due  de  Mirepoix;  of  the  first  Letter  I  inclose 
a  Copy  only,  the  Original  being  in  the  Hands  of  Colonel  Webb; 
but  you  will  And  the  second  herewith  as  It  was  received. 

Your  Lordship  will  see  by  the  inclosed  Copies  of  the  Earl  of 
Halifax's,  and  my  Letters  to  Sir  ('harles  Hardy,  Gov*^  Shirley, 
and  Colonel  Webb,  together  with  some  papers  therein  refer'd 
to,  the  first  steps  that  were  taken  here,  in  consequence  of  this 
Discovery: — But,  since  the  Departure  of  Colonel  Webb,  a 
Duplicate  of  the  second  of  these  intercepted  Letters,  having 
been  sent  to  Londonderry  in  Iveland,  by  a  person,  under  the 

'Henry  Fox  (1705-1774),  father  of  Clmrlcs  James  Fox,  vrns  Secretary  of  State  from 
Kovember,  1755,  to  October,  ITIii. 

'John  Campbell,  Karl  of  Lmuloiii;  (1705-1782),  fommissioned  cuiuniauder-in-cbiel'  ia 
America,  March  20,  1756. 


INTERCEPTED    LETTERS,    ITHH. 


663 


Name  of  Jidnes  A11(Mi  of  Pliiliulelphia,  umler  cover  of  the 
inclosed  letter  to  M«-  (Iambic  of  that  place,  and  transmitted  to 
me  by  the  Duke  of  DevoDshire,  Lord  Lieut  of  Ireland;  I  imme- 
diately desire<l  His  (Irace  would  procure  the  L<tter8  which  1 
8en<l  inclosed,  to  Master  (Iambic,  and  M-^  Kedmoud  Cunning- 
ham, whereby  your  Lordshii)  may  probably  be  able  to  discover, 
by  whom  the  said  intercepted  Letters  were  wrote;  and  will 
prosecute  the  Author,  or  Authors  of  them,  tlicn',  or  send  them 
to  England,  as  your  Lordship  shall  think  most  advisable. 

I  am 

H.  Fox. 

Endorsed :— Dra*  to  the  Earl  of 

Loudoun 

May  7*"  1756 

Secret 


\ 


? 


9.  "FILIU8  GALLICiE"  TO  THE  DUKE  DE  MIREPOIX.* 

America  Jauy  6'"  1756  N°.  1 
May  it  Please  your  Grace, 

This  may  perhaps  be  somewhat  surprising  &c.  but  let  it  not 
offend  your  Grace,  for  in  the  Deepest  Humility  1  beg  leave  to 
approach  y'  G' :  and  let  me  implore  y"^  G"  patience  to  hear  me, 
I  shall  oot  here  presume  to  make  an  apology,  as  time  not 
place  '11  permitt;  but  hereafter,  when  I  shall  dare  to  Discover 
myself,  and  when  I  lind  this  '11  be  acceptable— I  trust  your 
goodness  '11  excu^^'  me;  I  doubt  not  but  1  shall  find  favour  and 
protection  with  his  Majesty,  whose  Paternal  goodness  to  his 
subjects  I  am  too  sensible  off— neither  shall  I  here  disclose  my 
whole  scheme;  but  only  by  hints  and  Insinuations  give  y  Gr. 
a  small  Idea  of  my  Designs;  (in  behalf  of  his  most  Christian 
Majesty  ag''^  the  English)  by  w'i»  y^  Gr.  '11  see  that  what  1  am 
ab*  to  undertake  is  easily  accomplished— Therefore  Let  me 
earnestly  beseech  y"^  (h-.  to  grant  me  y"^  aid  and  assistance  on 
this  occasion,  since  the  Honour  and  Glory  of  our  Grand  Mon- 
arch Lewis  the  tifteenth  is  concerned  therein-;  whose  honour 
&c  I  shall  always  think  myself  justified  in,  to  Defend,  tho'  I 
prove  false  to  those  who  employ  me  ag«'  his  Majesty,  or  his 
Subjects  and  as  1  place  my  Confidence  in  y'  G""  and  y^  G"  is  the 
only  Person  in  the  world  I  now  Disclose  my  tho**  to,  1  rely 

'Miropoix  had  been  Frenoh  nnibasaador  in  London,  ]  749-1756. 


fie4 


AMEIUCAN    niSTORICAL   ARSOriATION. 


!\ 


and  earnestly  entreat  y'  (i'"  to  keep  this  "ccret,  for  slionld  it 
bo  <liscovered  and  ffot  to  tlio  ears  of  the  Knjrlish;  y' G""  nuist 
be  sensible  what  would  be  the  c()nse<inenee;  for  althoufih  I'm 
tinknown  to  y'  (i'  [  am  not  so  to  the  lOnfylish  I  am  well  per- 
suaded of  yGrs:  Interistat  (yourtaiid  I^oyalty  to  I  lis  Majesty, 
and  bet;  when  yG""  havS  read  these  iMii)erfe(!t  lines  (if  y  G'  thinks 
fitt)toeoinmuni(!ate'eni  in  abetter  Fianpfuafie  to  the  I'rimo  Min- 
ister and  let  me  entreat  y'  ii':  to  pay  a  due  regard  to  what 
I'm  ab'  to  write;  tho'  it  be  done  in  this  unyenteel  illiterate  &e. 
a  manner,  and  let  not  my  lionest  and  sincere  intentions  towards 
his  Most  Christian  Majesty  (the  best  of  Kinji«)  be  disregarded, 
for  want  of  a  Proper  Dietion,  and  for  want  of  properly  address- 
inj-y'  (r':  for  must  confess  I  was  not  bred  a  scholar,  hut  a 
soldier — and  oven  am  much  hurried  in  writing;  this;  but  rely 
on  y'  G"  jifoodness  to  i)ardon  me  hereafter  wliat  I  now  do 
amiss,  wlien  y'  G' :  shall  hear  of  tho  jfood  eflect  of  it.  I  take 
tlie  liberty  of  wrltinji'  to  y  G'  in  English  (as  I've  my  reasons 
for  it)  not  donbtinj;,  but  y^  G'  is  well  }ic(iuaitited  Avith  that 
Language — but  if  y'  G'  vouchsafesto  writetomo  in  I'erticular, 
desire  it  might  be  in  French,  for  I  understand  that  Language 
well;  and  also  mostoi'  the  Indian  Languages  in  this  country, — 
before  I  Hnish  this  '11  give  y  G'.  pr()i)er  Directions  to  me.  I 
am  obliged  to  write  this  with  my  own  haml  for  dare  not  con- 
flde  in  any  but  shant  dare  to  fix  my  name  or  place  of  abode 
&c — y  G'  must  doubtlessly  be  aciiuanted  with  North  America^ 
it's  fine  countries,  vast  extent  &c.  iS:c.  the  considerable  advan- 
tage it'll  be  to  the  Tower  that  couipiers  it,  and  y^  G'  must  also 
'ere  this  be  acquainted  with  what  has  lately  been  transacted 
in  this  part  of  the  world.  1  am  looked  on  in  these  jjarts,  a 
faithful  true  and  Loyal  Subject  of  King-  ( Jeorge,  but  confess  to 
y'  G"^  that  my  heart  is  and  always  was  for  his  Most  Christian 
Majesty,  his  religion  and  country.  I've  some  time  ago,  been  very 
ill  used  by  the  English  Governours  hen;  have  within  these  15 
days,  been  solicited  to  be  at  the  head  off  a  considerable  army  to 
be  raised  this  Winter  in  PeusylvaiMa  Govern*  &c,  to  be  ready 
by  next  spring,  to  march  ag*'  Fort  I)u  Quesne  on  the  Ohio  Ac": 
I  shall  take  care  to  chuse  out  of  the  ( Jermans,  Irish  &c'*  such  offi- 
cers and  men,  as  I  know  are  of  the  true  Eomau  Catholick  faith 
and Dis-attected totheGovern'.  NB : evenOhioisafineCountry 
and  worth  contending  for,  it's  yet  mostly  inhabited  by  Indi- 
ans— Fort  du  Quesne  is  ab*^.  3(!0  miles,  back  of  Virginia  and 
Philadelphia,  shall  have  a  long  march  of  it,  Fort  du  Quesne  is 


tmrm 


INTFJJCEI'TEU    LI-yiTERS,    I7r.«. 


oan 


nmch  fiirtluT  from  ('jieiiida,  but  ifw  by  water  down  a  river;  I 
tliiiiU  it's  abcnit  yoo  iiiiliiH — I  would  caniostly  tMi treat  yMl' to 
rauHo  to  bo  sent  unto  uu)  proper  lettt'rs  of  liis  MaJestyH  apro- 
biition  favour  isnr.  to  his  I'oople  w"''  1  nii^'lit  hIiow  to  wucli  of 
tlieariny  wImui  on  tlic  March, as  1  know  I  shall  prevail  on;  but 
desire  such  writings  may  be  done  iu  English  and  some  of  em 
in  the  (lerr.ian  Tongue,  as  few  people  here  understand  the 
Krench  Language,  this  L  leave  to  yMl' :  to  order  it  as  it  should 
be,  shoud  ii.lso  be  glad  y  G'"  advice  to  n>e;  and  beg  y'(J': 
would  also  order  mo  a  sum  of  money  with  his  most  Christian 
Majesty  impression  on  it,  to  Distribute  among  the  soldiers 
and  Indians  (and  to  make  ])resents  to  sonu*  great  men)  to  gain 
tiiem  on  my  side  and  also  ab*  one  thousand  swords  to  present 
to  the  Ollicers;  it  would  greatly  iiilluence  'em  1  woud  not  have 
y"^  d""  immagine,  I  desire  the  least  of  what  I  now  ask  for,  for 
my  self;  on  the  contrary  I  assure  y  (i' ;  that  had  1  ability  of 
myself  only;  my  zeal,  for  my  Koyal  Master  is  such  that  1 
would  go  thro' the  whole  without  craving  any  assistance  (or 
I'erish  in  the  attempt)  confiding  iu  his  Majestys  goodness  to 
consider  mo  hereafter — as  T  shall  render  a. just  acco'  of  every- 
thing y'  d''  'II  be  ]>leased  to  comitt  to  my  care,  so  I  expect  his 
Majesty  '11  be  rei)ai(l  the  charge  I  now  desire  he  may  be  put 
to — .The  raising,  doathing  and  arming  the  array  '11  be  at  the 
expence  of  the  Ditt'erent  (lovernts  for  whose  service  it's  sup- 
posed 1  raise  it — The  money  I  ask  for,  is  only  to  gain  the  army 
fiU'his  Majesty;  (that  all  powerfuU  Metal  gains  all  things)  and 
if  y  Grace  '11  be  pleased  to  order  it  as  I  shall  mention,  it'll  >  ume 
safe  to  my  hands,  tho'  I  should  be  on  the  march  or  at  T^ort  dii 
Quesne,  y'  G'  may  perhaps  think  it  a  risque  to  trust  a  man  you 
don't  know,  a'ul  at  such  Distance  but  all  the  security  1  can  at 
present  give  y  G''  is  only  my  word  of  honour,  and  can  with  a 
clear  conscience  assure  y :  G"^:  that  if  you'll  venture  y  G' :  '11 
find  it  on  a  sure  Bottom  neither  would  I  have  y^  G^  immagine 
that  this  writing  may  be  tho  effect  of  a  wild  Brain  &c'^  because 
it's  Jumbled  together  in  an  odd  manner — ]!f.  B :  the  raising  this 
army  is  to  be  done  very  still  and  without  noise.  Least  the  news 
might  reach  Canada,  and  this  serves  my  purpose  best  to  chuse 
my  men  I  also  acquaint  y^  G' :  that  I  am  not  to  be  ready  to 
march  till  next  May,  by  order  of  Gov^  Shirley  who  is  General- 
issimo of  all  the  King's  forces  in  these  parts — and  y  G' :  may 
also  depend,  that  I  shall  delay  the  march  as  long  as  possible, 
on  purpose  to  hear  from  y  G"^ :  I  rely  on  y  G' :  to  send  me 


i 


666 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


I 

^ 

t 

i 

\ 

.. 

f 

1 

such  Let'  '^rs  &c  by  the  nr»t  English  \  easels  next  spring,  or 
fear  I  shaiit  so  easily  be  able  to  persuade  the  pp<jple;  and 
when  I  have  'em  shjiU  send  notice  to  tiio  Coni'nanding  Officer 
at  fort  dn  Quesne  of  my  Intentions  and  sluill  also  send  letters 
to  Canada  and  urge  them  also  to  be  ready.  The  armies  of 
Gov^  Shirley  and  (leneral  .lohnson  are  Quartered  this  winter 
on  the  frontiers  of  Kew  York  (they  cosist  otab*  Eight  thousand 
men)  to  be  ready  by  next  spring:  when  they'll  be  made  np  to 
15  or  IG  thousand,  to  march  ag''*  CJrowu  Point  Niagara  &c". 
N.  B:  Shirleys  army  is  intended  ag'**.  Niagara,  and  Johnsons 
ag"*  Crown  Point  at  the  Distance  of  ab*.  350  miles  fiom  each 
other;  Shirleys  army  is  now  Quartered  at  Oswego  ab'.  260 
miles  above  Albany,  and  Johnsons  at  Lake  Sacrament,  wltere 
they've  bnilt  a  strong  fort  since  the  defeat  of  that  worthy 
Gentl'".  Mons'.  Le  Baron  de  Diakau  Many  of  Mods'".  Dies- 
<an's  solditis,  since  the  Defeat  are  gone  over  to  the  English — 
N.  B.  the  roads  to  the  above  Camps  are  very  far  and  Difficult, 
perticularly  to  M""  Johnsons,  w*^''  is  mostly  by  Land,  so  I  doubt 
if  they'll  be  able  to  cany  their  Provisions  &c*  Ac"  from  Alb.:  ny, 
so  early  as  they  expect  ab'  40  waggons  went  dayly  Last  sum- 
me  •  from  Albany  to  Johnsons  Camp,  and  cuud  only  keep  'em 
m  Provisions  from  hand  to  mouth,  shoud  the  above  armies 
not  be  prevented  iu  their  Intentions,  I  should  be  in  very  great 
pain  for  Canada,  but  am  in  hopes  I  „hall  be  enabled  to  turn 
their  force  another  waj  — They'll  not  be  able  to  do  any  hurt 
there  till  ab*.  next  June  or  July,  as  the  season  is  late  there,  it 
being  so  far  to  the  Northward :  The  late  General  Braddock's 
troops  have  been  Drawn  from  the  frontier^  of  Virginia  &c''  to 
New  York  and  have  been  sent  from  thence  up  to  Albany  to 
Join  Gen^.  Sliirleys  Kegement  at  Oswego,  (Albany  lies  ab'  150 
miles  above  New  York  np  a  very  fine  and  Navigable  River) 
since  these  troops  have  been  drawn  from  thence,  the  Indians 
in  his  most  Christian  Majesty  Inter*:  with  those  w'"  had  been 
ill  the  English  Int  before  Braddock's  defeat,  have  fallen  on 
the  frontiers  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pensylvania,  Jersey's  &c* 
and  Lay  waste  the  Country,  murder  and  scalp  many  of  the 
people  and  carry  away  some  captive.  This  is  well  pleasing  to 
me,  because  it  excites  the  Governt".  the  more  earnest  to  raise 
the  money  and  soldiers;  (who  are  yet  Disputing  ab'  furnish- 
ing their  Quotas  of  money)  Phil"*  has  already  granted  sixty 
thousand  pounds  towards  it,  that  City  is  much  Divided,  the 
Gc  ''  and  assembly  are  at  such  varieuce,  that  their  Disputes 
are  to  be  transmitted  to  England — . 


■: 


„<, . 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    ITHfi. 


667 


The,  India  18  have  advanced  to  ab*  00  miles  back  of  PhiK 
and  burnt  up  whole  villages;  did  they  but  know  the  condition 
rhiK  is  in  at  present  they  might  do  the  same  to  that  city; 
The  armies  of  Shirley  and  Johnson,  are  also  much  Devided, 
striving,  who  shall  get  the  most  money  and  honour  by  the 
expedition,  (This  is  according  to  the  English  Disposition)  I 
coud  wish  they  woud  get  by  the  ears,  as  I  shoud  the  more 
easily  execute  my  scheme — •  I  am  assured  of  a  Oollonel,  and 
3  Capt"  Inter"  in  Shirleys  Regm^  provided  I  coud  show  them 
encouragement  from  home — .  The  Coll.  informed  me,  in  a  let- 
ter that  Gen'  Johnson  had  told  him,  he  woud  lay  down  his 
comm*  on  acco*  of  the  Disputes  between  him  and  Shirley  &c". 
(NB:  General  Johnson  was  borned  in  Ireland,  and  has  not 
been  in  this  Country  above  20  years,  but  on  acco*  of  his  getiug 
in  with  the  Trroqucis  (w*^''  the  English  call  the  five  Nations) 
and  having  great  Inter*  with  them,  he  is  at  this  time  thus  pro- 
moted; he  is  a  man  of  ab*  40  years  old,  and  has  his  seat  in  tlie 
Mohawk  Country — .  (N.  B :  The  Gover*^  of  Pensilvenia  Jer- 
seys i&c*  La\'o  sent  out  several  detachments  2  and  3  hundred 
men  ag»*  the  Indians  that  enrageded  ( t)  them  as  above  men- 
tioned, but  the  detachments  hav)  continually  been  repulsed 
and  taken  by  them)  The  Gove""  of  New  York  is  also  out  with 
Shirley — .  If  their  Disputes  have  no  other  good  effect  in  my 
Behalf,  it  will  however  retard  their  expeditions — .  All  last 
summer  Shirley's  army  wis  doing  nothing  else  but  repairing 
fort  Oswego  and  building  vessels  of  war  to  cruise  on  Lake 
Ontario;  if  that  had  been  a  french  Army,  it  woud  have  taken 
Niagara  (if  it  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  English)  and  what 
ever  else  it  wanted — but  the  English  are  a  most  dilatory,  indo- 
lent peoiile,  never  in  haste,  but  spend  most  of  their  time  in 
drinking  and  Jangling  together — .  They  call  themselves  (for- 
sooth) a  free  people;  and  indeed,  I  have  found  'era  so,  for  the 
meanest  soldier  has  as  mu^ih  to  say  as  his  officer,  there  is  no 
Govern*  among  'em — but  let  nie  not  find  fault  with  their  Dila- 
toriness  and  indolence  &c'^  at  present  since  it  serves  my  pur- 
pose best,  and  '11  give  time  to  have  y  Gr\  answer;  and  I 
expect  to  hear  from  y"^  Grace,  before  anything  '11  be  done  here 
to  his  Majestys  Prejudice  and  trust  y  G"^:  '11  be  as  expeditious 
in  sending  to  me  as  possible,  as  I've  been  in  writing  to  y"^ 
G': — had  not  Mons'"  Dieskaw,  (whose  defeat  I  hope  to  revenge) 
come  ag"*  Johnson  there  would  've  been  no  battle  faught  Last 
summer;  and  had  not  the  cannon,  w"''  the  English  had  and  w"*' 


rj 


9 

i 


fi()8 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


'A 


\n 


U 


ii! 


,1 

II 


the  freiicli  Army  was  not  apprehensive  off,  put  the  Canadi- 
ans and  Indians  in  confusion,  i'l  all  probability,  that  worthy 
Gent'"  must  have  beaten  Johnson,  for  by  what  I  coud  perceive, 
the  English  were  struck  with  a  panick,  and  were  near  ready 
to  quit  the  field  before  that;  and  what  ever  the  English  may 
boast  of  Victory,  I  must  say  they  behaved  very  ill,  consider- 
ing their  advantages  and  numbers, — and  can  only  impute  it  to 
a  turn  of  good  fortune  in  favor  of  the  English,  rather  than  con- 
duct, and  altho'the  french  were  beaten,  there  was  considerable 
more  of  the  English  killed  in  the  action,  than  of  the  french — . 
I  am  credibly  informed  that  the  Indians,  on  the  back  parts  of 
the  countrys  above  mentioned  are  become  veiy  numerous;  if 
these  creatures  had  arms,  and  were  properly  Led  forth,  they 
might  do  great  execution ;  I  doubt  not  but  I  shall  have  'em  all 
with  me  next  summer,  provided  I  can  shew  them  his  Majestys 
letters  &c'*  w'''  I  shall  impatiently  wait  for — .  but  shoud  I  not 
have  'em  by  that  time,  I  shall  be  obliged,  much  ag«'  my  will 
and  conscience  to  fight  ag"*  my  Bretheren  the  french  and  those 
Indians  w"''  have  forsaken  the  English  Int*  since  Braddocks 
Defeat  must  join  me  for  their  own  safety — .  If  y^  G"^:  shou<l 
be  dubious  of  the  truth  of  what  I  hero  relate  of  things  here,  I 
beg  leave  to  referr  y  G"^:  to  the  late  news  papers  from  these 
parts  to  this  Inst:  wherein  if  y^  Gr:  '11  find  to  agree  with  what 
I  say  (except  my  design  ag*'  the  English) 

This  y  Gr:  may  Look  on  as  Idle,  as  news  papers,  contain 
often  the  Greatest  falsities:  but  I  assure  y  Gr:  that  whatever 
is  therein  related  of  things  that  happen  in  these  parts,  is  fact, 
y  Gr:  may  have  s''  news  papers  of  y  correspondances,  from 
London  and  Holland,  as  it  woud  not  do  to  enclose  'em  here, 
for  I  woud  fain  have  this  Packett  as  small  as  possible  and 
even  as  it  is,  I  find  it  Difficult  to  have  it  conveyed  to  y  Gr: 
since  y'  Gr:«  return  from  the  British  Court,  on  acco*  of  the 
approaching  war,  with  England  and  the  perfidy  of  the  Eng- 
lish; and  shoud  this  letter  not  get  safe  to  y^  Gr:  and  I  not 
hear  from  y  Gr :  in  time,  I  shoud  Despair  of  success,  I  intended 
to  have  sent  this  under  cover  to  Mons'.  Dieskau's  biother  in 
Holland  as  I've  no  acquaintance  there,  but  fearing  least  the 
name  of  Dieskau  might  create  suspicion,  I  shall  send  it  at  a 
venture  to  some  mercli'  there  and  give  it  here  to  a  friend 
(who'll  not  suspect  the  contents)  to  send  it  to  New  York  to  be 
forwarded  from  thence,  and  for  fear  of  Miscarriage  shall  take 
a  copy  of  it  to  send  p  another  conveyance — .  and  now  beg 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


669 


leave  to  Inform  y"^  Gr:  how,  and  in  what  manner  to  Direct  and 
send  to  me.  1  shall  appoint  a  friend  to  receive  all  such  Let- 
tei's  &C''  as  y^  Gr :  '11  be  pleased  to  order  to  me  by  the  name  of 
Pierre  Fidel,  and  shall  've  'em  immediately  sent  to  me;  this 
friend  shall  ai»point  another  at  Xew  York,  tho'  they'll  both  be 
Ignorant  what  they  contain;  I  should  also  acquaint  y^  Gr: 
that  there  are  great  numbers  of  vessells  that  trade  from  these 
parts  to  Europe,  perticuhirly  to  Engiantl  and  Holland  (N.li: 
there  is  Packet  boats  to  go  constant  from  England  to  its 
American  Collonies)  I  woud  chnso  to  have  what  y  Gr:  wou'd 
be  pleased  to  order  to  me  come  by  the  English  vessells  from 
Holland;  (as  there  is  to  be  a  neutrality  daring  a  war  with 
England,  between  his  most  Christian  Majesty  and  the  States 
Generals)  I  shoud  think  it  the  surest  way;  and  woud  chase  to 
have  it  come  by  Different  vessells  and  not  all  in  one  Bottom. 
Hov7ever,  I  leave  it  to  y^GiiMvise  and  prudent  conduct  to 
order  as  y""  Gr:  shall  judge  proper;  as  I  doubt  not  but  y'  Gr: 
has  corrispondences  in  both  places  that  may  be  relyed  on,  but 
Let  me  pray  y'  Gr:  that  it  may  be  done  privately  without  wit- 
ness not  to  give  any  suspicion  either  there  or  here,  and  if  I 
might  take  upon  me  to  advise  y*^  Gr:.  It  might  be  ordered 
among  some  Lawfull  Merchaiulize  and  shipcd,and  the  Masters 
of  such  Vessells  can  sign  bills  Lading  to  Deliver  such  goods  to 
the  s''  Pierre  Fidel  or  his  order — ,  1  am  told  there  are  many 
vessels  expected  next  spr'.ng  from  Holland  to  New  York;  I 
woud  chuse  to  have  'em  come  to  that  Port,  as  t'woud  be  the 
safest — .  there  are  also  several  exjjected  from  London  to  that 
Port — .  Be  pleased  to  Diiect 
To 

M"".  Pierre  Fidel 

to  be  left  at  M^  Bouut's 

Coffyhouse  (untill  asked  for) 
in  New  York. 

If  y  Gr:  Directs  lo  M""  Pierre  Fidel,  as  above  said,  y^  Gr: 
need  not  in  the  least  doubt  of  its  being  safely  conveyed  to  me. 

I  have  been  to  New  York  to  visit  J'lons'^  Dieskau  where  he 
lies  still  111  of  his  'vounds,  but  is  now  Like  to  recover,  he  is  in  a 
good  house,  well  attended  and  great  care  is  taken  of  him  (to 
the  honour  of  the  English  be  this  said)  he  has  his  aid  d^  Camp 
with  him;  Had  that  unhappy  (rentl'"  had  the  good  fortune  to 
Jiave  beaten  Johnson's  Army,  he  woud  'ere  this  have  been  in 


I 


i 


m 


I 


670 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


V 


y 


I 


possession  of  tbe  City  of  Albany,  and  woud  infallibly  have  cut 
off  Shirley's  army  also  as  he  coud  prevent  all  supplys  being 
sent  thither,  and  by  reinforcements  he  might  have  had  from 
Canada  &c"  he  coud  have  strengthened  himself  there  this 
winter,  and  by  next  spring  sent  Emissaries  i)rivately  thro' the 
land  to  those  who  are  of  the  true  llomau  Catholick  fiiith  of 
w'  ■'  there  are  groat  numbers  who  dare  not  show  their  heads, 
and  who  I  know  wislied  and  praj'ed  for  his  success;  many  of 
whom  since  his  confinement  at  New  York  fiave  Desired  to  see 
him,  but  have  not  been  permitted — .he  might  also  have  sent 
to  the  negro  Slaves  (of  w*^''  there  are  some  thousands)  and 
promised  them  their  freedom — .  he  would  have  been  joined  by 
Multitudes, — and  then  have  Issued  his  Proclamation  in  his  Most 
Cliristian  Majestys  name,  granting  free  liberty  of  conscience. 
Enjoyments  of  their  Estates,  Kights  and  Trivileges  &c»  &c'*  as 
afore  to  those  who  woud  only  submitt  to  his  Majestys  Clemency 
and  become  his  Subjects — .  I  doubt  not  but  most  of  the  herri- 
ticks  would  comply  rather  than  lose  their  all,  and  perish,  and 
by  next  summer  he  might  have  been  in  possession  of  New  York 
(w'=''  is  ab'  the  center  of  the  British  Dominions  on  the  Conti- 
nent) and  afterwards  it  woud  be  no  DifHcult  matter,  if  he  was 
supplyed  with  money  &g^  from  home,  to  make  himself  master 
of  all  the  Jerseys,  Pensylvenia  Ac"  and  in  consequence  the 
English  West  Indias  must  fall,  as  they  coud  not  long  subsist 
without  these  provision  Collonies — As  woud  also  the  Countries 
to  the  Eastward,  as  far  as  Boston  &c": — but  that  unfortunate 
Gentleman  was  deceived  in  his  Intelligences — neither  was  it  in 
my  Power  to  send  him  any  as  I  did  to  Mons*^  de  Contrecour  at 
fort  du  Quesne  when  Braddock  was  marching  that  way  Mons' 
Dumas  in  a  letter  conveyed  to  me  p  an  English  Indian  after- 
wards returned  me,  his  and  Mons'  de  Contrecours  thanks  for 
the  advice  I  had  given  them,  and  said  the  victory  was  in  a 
great  measure  to  it.  N.  B :  Mess"  de  Beaujeu,  Carneville  and 
Dumas  were  Capts  that  fought  ag**  Braddock.  the  two  former 
fell  in  P  ttle  as  Mons""  Dumas  mentioned  to  me  I  well  per- 
suaded that  did  Mons'  Dieskau  Know  of  my  writing  this  he 
woud,  if  he  were  allowed  to  write,  attest  it  with  both  his  hands, 
I  only  mentioned  it  to  him,  that  I  had  a  letter  to  be  forwarded 
to  france  and  he  imtnediately  recommended  me  to  his  Bro' 
assuring  me  he  would  forward  it  for  me — it  grieves  me  to  see 
the  poor  french  Inhabitants  of  Mines  in  Nova  Scotia,*  Dis- 


'  The  deportwl  Acadians, 


INTERCEPTED    LETTERS,    1756. 


671 


cut 
ii)g 
om 
:his 
the 

Of 


persed  thro'  ail  the  Euglish  Collonies,  W''  the  Englisli  have 
transported  from  thence.  I  beg  y*^  (Ir".  pardon  for  detaining 
y''  Gr:  with  this  unlucky  turn  of  Mons'  Dieskau  <S:c*,  it  was  not 
my  Intention  when  I  first  sat  down  to  write  to  y"^  Gr:  but 
assure  y'  Gr:  that  it  woud've  given  me  equal  pleasure  if  that 
Gentl"  had  succeeded,  as  if  I  had  done  it  Myself. — And  permit 
me  now  to  say,  I  leave  y"^  Gr:  to  Judge  what  resistance  they'll 
be  able  to  make  when  they  have  so  powerfull  an  Ennemy  in 
the  heart  of  their  Country,  unsusi)ected,  unguarded  and  unpro- 
vided as  they'll  be  to  receive  him — .  I  want  not  any  troops  to 
be  sent  me,  (for  here  are  men  enough)  but  a  sufficiency  of  mouey 
to  hire  them  with — .  And  dare  aflirra,  that  half  the  sum  w*^^''  was 
expended  in  transporting  Mons"^  Dieskau  and  his  forces  hither 
woud  (in  this  way)  conquer  all  l^orth  America  for  my  lloyal 
Master  Lewis  XV:  and  woud  bring  the  English  to  terms  with 
regard  to  Limitts  here — .  I  wish  y"^  Gr:  all  blessing  spiritual 
and  temporal  in  the  Ensuing  New  York,  [sici  and  wish  success 
to  his  Majestys  Arms,  and  am  tho'  unknown  to  y'  Gr:  with  all 
due  reverence  and  respect,  may  it  please  y"^  Grace 
Your  Graces  nost  obedient,  most 
Hb'"  and  Most  Devoted  Serv* 

Filius  Gallicae. 

P.  S.  before  I  Close  this  I  must  hint  to  y  G' :  that  a  few  days 
ago,  there  has  been  at  New  York  a  Congress  of  the  English 
Gover*  on  the  Continent,'  they've  not  yet  communicated  the 
result  of  it  to  me;  An  Express  will  soon  sail  from  thsnce  for 
England — .  It's  not  in  my  Power  to  explain  myself  here  as  I 
coud  wish  to  do,  nor  to  write  the  whole  situation  of  affairs  here; 
for  as  said  afore  time  nor  place  '11  permitt.  hereafter  hope  to  do 
it  better  and  in  more  form — .  but  thus  much  I've  only  now  been 
able  to  insinuate  to  y'"  G":  in  hope  of  succeeding  in  my  Designs, 
and  in  making  myself  in  i)art  Known  to  y  G"^ :  that  his  Majesty 
may  also  know,  he  has  (tho'  unknown)  a  faitlifull  true  and  Loyal! 
subject  in  these  parts,  and  who  with  his  Majestys'  expects  soon 
to  drive  all  the  English  who  will  not  submitt  to  his  Majestys 
goodness;  off  the  continent — .  Therefore  let  me  now  at  last 
move  y'  G*^ :  by  heaven  and  earth,  not  to  Despise  what  I  say  but 
comply  with  my  re<piest — hereafter,  I  shall  not  prove  so  tedi- 
ous, nor  multiply  words  as  I  am  now  obliged  to  do. 

The  British  Dominions,  from  Halifax  to  Georgia  is  computed 


'  The  writer  alludes,  no  doubt,  to  the  council  of  war  of  December  12, 13,  1766, 


! 


» 


II 


m 


If*  ' 
h 


Mff 


14  $ 


672 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL    ASSOCIATION. 


rii*. 


a  tab*^  2000  miles,  it  Lies  in  a  circle  adjoining  the  sea,  with  beau- 
tiful rivers  running  through,  and  fine  Harbours,  fltt  for  the 
Largest  first  rate  Ships,  a  very  plentifull  Country  of  ail  things, 
but  their  Country  Lies  all  open  and  Defenceless,  and  the  Peo- 
ple much  alarmed  and  frightened  at  the  Least  acco*  of  a  french 
fleet  on  their  Coast,  because  of  their  nakedness — The  clinuite 
here;  have  found  it  much  the  same  as  in  France;  The  Country  s 
yfch  Lye  to  the  Westward  and  Southward  have  their  springs 
very  early  and  scarce  any  winter,  but  those  w«''  Lye  to  the 
Northward  have  their  springs  late  ^c" 

N.  I  > :  there  has  latly  been  discovered  in  Jersey  Govern'  sev- 
eral very  good  Copper  mines,  interinixt  with  silver. 

an  hour  ago  a  Gentl"  arrived  from  New  York,  came  to  visit 
me,  he  said,  it  was  reported  there,  that  a  french  fleet,  consist- 
ing of  17  men  of  war  and  transports  with  some  Bomb  Vessells, 
was  arrived  at  Spanish  river  in  Cape  Breton,  and  ware  landing 
their  men  (SiC  the  news  was  said  to  come  via  Boston,  from  S' 
Peters  in  Newfoundland  and  from  Halifax  in  Nova  Scotia, 
this  news  I  coud  wish  with  all  my  heart  to  be  true  as  the  Eng- 
lish fleet  is  sailed  from  thence  for  England — but  1  iramagine  it's 
only  his  Majestys  fleet  w'*'  sailed  down  the  river  St.  Lawrence 
Last  fall,  homeward  bound,  w*'''  might  have  put  in  there. 

Jan^  7*" 

I  am  informed  that  M""  John  de  Neufville  merch*  at  Amster- 
dam does  business  for  (rentlemen  in  New  York  I've  concluded 
to  send  it  to  his  care,  as  from  New  Yovk  by  the  name  of  George 
Spellings  and  shall  pretend  to  him  a  recommendation  from  his 
friends  there  on  purpose  to  have  it  immediately  forwarded  to 
y"^  Gr .  and  shall  desire  him  to  let  me  Know  by  that  name  of  its 
being  sent  to  your  Grace. 

Jany  8»"  1746  [1756] 

The  Post  sets  out  this  afternoon  for  New  York,  I  shall 
Deliver  this  (under  cover)  to  my  friend  here  to  be  forwarded 
thither — 

I  said  in  my  Letter  I  wovild  not  in  the  Least  Discover  myself, 
but  thus  much  Pll  now  venture  to  intimate  to  y^  Gr:  trusting 
that  it'll  abide  only  with  y  Gr:  untill  I  have  accomplished  my 
Designs — .  I  was  born'd,  and  all  my  relations  Live,  in  old 
france  in  good  repute  and  Loyall  subjects  to  his  Majesty;  and 
assure  y"^  Gr :  some  of  'em  not  unworthy  y"^  Gr"  notice,  and  some 
of  'em  not  unknown  to  y"^  G'  as  by  a  Letter  I  received 
some  time  ago  from  one  of  them.  I  intended  at  first  to  have 
sent  this  Letter  under  cover  to  him — but  I  have  my  retisons 


V 
^ 


M 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


673 


for  not  doing  it,  besides  1  don't  believe  an  English  Capt" 
woud  deliver  a  Letter  from  on  board  his  vessell,  at  this  time, 
that  was  directed  to  France —  I  shall  send  y  Gr :  a  few  lines 
again  next  spring,  in  the  best  manner  I  can — but  expect  y"" 
(Ir:  '11  be  doing  for  me  in  the  Intrim  and  if  I  succeed  in  my 
attempt,  (as  I  don't  in  the  least  doubt,  if  I  am  now  granted 
what  1  re(iuire)  I'll  return  home  and  Tjay  myself  with  gratitude 
at  y"^  (ir.'s  feet,  for  I  am  tired  of  playing  the  prodigal,  and 
Long  to  be  home  with  my  friends,  and  relations  again  from 
whom  1  have  strayea  these  many  years;  but  should  not  chuse 
to  return  to  them  but  in  honour — L  shall  be  38  years  old  nex 
August,  am  still  a  single  man  and  most  part  of  my  Life  has 
been  spent  in  the  service  of  the  English,  w'''  I  have  always 
faithfully  Discharg'd  but  now  again  to  be  employed  and  tight 
ngoi  rny  King  and  country  I  cant  any  more  bear  to  think  oil"; 
and  yet  shall  be  obliged  to  do  it,  for  subsistance,  as  I've  no 
other  Dependance  here,  and  no  lilstate  at  home  I  was  sent  near 
the  close  of  the  last  war  a  commissioner  to  Canada,  where 
seeing  the  contidence  of  the  English  placed  in  me,  and  hearing 
how  much  I  was  in  the  esteem  of  all  sorts  ol"  People  among 
them,  and  knowing  my  Principles  and  fiom  whence  I  was  it 
was  there  agreed  upon,  that  if  the  English  shoud  at  any  time 
thereafter  promote  me  to  a  general  of  an  army  ag*"  them,  that 
I  shoud  employ  my  whole  force  in  behalf  of  his  most  christian 
Majesty,  and  write  home  ab*  it  and  I  should  be  immediately 
assisted.  This  now  is  come  to  pass,  contrary  to  my  expecta- 
tions; it's  a  fourtnight  since  I  was  appointed  and  am  already 
confirmed  (since  the  evasions  of  the  french  and  Indians  on 
their  frontiers  as  afore  mentioned,)  and  hoije  now  to  be  enabled 
to  put  my  scheme  in  execution  as  above  said;  and  hope  y 
Gr:  '11  excuse  me  for  making  choice  of  y^  Gr:  to  write  to,  its 
not  in  my  i)ower  at  this  time  to  acquaint  the  (Jentl"  in  Canada 
of  what  has  happened  to  me,  neither  woud  it  avail  any  thing 
until!  I  had  sonie  assurance  of  being  assisted  from  home — . 
Y'^  Gr :  may  perhaps  hereafter  accuse  me  of  perfidy  and  Ingrat- 
itude to  the  English,  and  a  person  not  fit  to  be  trusted;  to  W' 
I  beg  leave  to  answer  y"^^  Gr :,  that  as  to  Perfidy  I  have  already 
intimated  toy^Gr:  how  my  heart  has  always  been  disposed 
and  coud  at  any  time  satisfy  y"^  Gr:  to  the  contrary,  and  as 
to  Ingratitude;  if  the  English  have  given  me  commissions 
and  promoted  me  to  honours  among  them  it  was  to  serve  their 
own  purposes,  and  they've  had  my  services  for  it  w"''  they've 
uevei-  had  reason  to  complain  off;  Besides  I  expect  greater 
H.  Doc.  353 43 


I. 
I 


51 


674 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


^ 


<1 


m 


m 


m 


1 


! 


prefforments,  if  I  succeed,  by  his  Majesty,  and  then  I  shall  be 
among  my  own  people  and  enjoy  my  religion  freely,  w"''  1  have 
not  dared  to  do,  since  I've  been  among  the  English,  but  must 
tamely  bear  to  hear  my  religion  King  and  country  reflected  on 
by  Heriticks,  and  have  never  yet  been  iu  the  Chapel  at  Phil* 
for  fear  of  giving  suspicion,  however  1  shall  always  retain  a 
gratefuU  sence  of  the  English  civilities  and  good  will  toward 
me  while  they  thought  me  their  own,  and  intend  to  be  kind 
to  them — espetialy  those  I  have  received  great  friendships 
from — .  except  some  of  tlieir  Gov'"  N.B:  There  is  a  reward  of 
700  p  8/8  oflFered  by  the  Governt  of  Phi»  to  any  who  shall 
bring  the  heads  of  Shingas,  and  Jacobs,  two  chiefs  of  the 
Delaware  Indian  Nation  who  have  revolted  from  the  English.' 
I  shoud  be  very  sorry  to  see  their  heads  Bro*.  as  they  are  my 
very  good  friends — .  but  am  not  iu  much  concern  about  them 
as  they'll  not  easily  be  taken.  Most  of  the  back  Inhabitants 
of  Phil*  Maryland  Ac"  are  fled  to  the  cities,  and  have  left 
their  Plantations  a  prey  to  the  Indians. — .  The  sight  of  one 
Indian  '11  frighten  and  drive  away  a  score  of  Englishmen — 
1  must  also  acquaint  y"^  Gr:  that  it  was  the  appearance  of  the 
Indians  that  frightened  Braddocks  men,  and  put  his  army  in 
<;onfu8ion. —  here  is  a  certain  acco'  come  yesterday  from  Hal- 
ifax in  Nova  Scotia  that  some  of  King  George's  Soldiers  who 
had  strayed  iu  the  woods;  were  taken  Prisoners  by  thefrench 
and  Indians  there;  that  the  New  England  troops  w''  were 
hired  to  take  Mines ;  were  Quarreling  with  the  Governor  there, 
ab*  their  pay,  and  because  the  GoV^  had  not  prepared  vessells 
to  carry  them  home  according  to  promiss;  that  the  New  Eng. 
land  troops,  and  the  Kings  troops  were  fighting  with  each 
other  &C'' —  N.  B.  I  mention  the  Inroads  of  the  Indians  &c» 
to  Let  y"^  G"^  see  the  Deplorable  Condition  most  of  the  British 
Collonies  are  in  at  present,  and  how  easily  they  may  be  at  this 
time  subdued. 

A  Mon  Seigneur 
Mon  Seigneur  Le  Due  de  Mirepoix 


Copy 
The  original  given  to  the 
Earl  of  Loudoun. 


Paris 


'Jacobs  was  killed  about  April  1 ;  Pa.  Archive*,  ii,  612.    Shiogas  survived ;  ibid.,  iii,  533. 


ilS 


«B& 


OB 


■rrgri 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756 


675 


8.  "FILIU.S  (iALLIC/E"  TO  THE  DUKE  J)H  MIREPOIX. 

Jaay  12"'  1750 

The  Original  I  have  sent  under  cover  to  M""  John  de  Neufville 
Merchant  at  Amsterdam  to  be  forwarded  from  New  York  j). 
the  Nightingale  Man  of  War,  which  I  heard  was  soon  to  sail 
the  Express  to  London. 

My  Serjeants  have  within  these  3  days  Enlisted  600  men,  my 
compli'"  is  to  be  15000,  and  if  I  shon'd  have  occasion  I  believe 
I  con'd  raise  50,000  in  Pensilvania  (lovernment  only,  for  there 
has  been  yearly  vr  t  nnmbers  of  Germans  imported  from  Hol- 
land, who  are  very  i)oor  and  wou'd  be  glad  to  do  anything  for 
a  living  as  most  of  them  are  oblig'd  to  sell  themselves  to  pay 
their  passage  thither.  These  people  I  am  persnaded,  it  would 
be  a  matter  of  Indifference  to  them  (if  they  were  paid)  whom 
they  serv'd;  whether  the  King  of  France  or  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, and  I  know  most  of  them  would  from  principle  rather 
choose  to  serve  my  Royal  Master : 

There  has  also  been  from  time  to  Time,  transported  from 
England  vast  Nnmbers  of  Irish,  to  Virginia  and  Philadelphia 
for  the  Peopling  The  Kings  Plantations  Most  of  these  are 
of  the  true  Roman  Catholick  Faith. 

There  has  also  been  continually  transported  from  England 
to  the  above  places,  what  they  call  convicts,  for  crimes  com- 
itted  there,  for  which  they  are  Sold  in  Slavery  for  seven 
years — Some  of  these  that  I  have  happened  to  speak  to,  have 
profess'd  the  true  Catholick  Religion,  but  their  Religion  is 
much  the  same  with  most  of  the  Hereticks  in  this  Country, 
who  (by  what  I  can  perceive)  mind  no  other  than  that  of  get- 
ting Money;  and  may  be  hired  to  do  anything. 

We  have  an  account  here  that  a  Body  of  Eleven  hundred 
Indians  had  appeared  at  Goshen'  and  behav'd  very  insolently 
that  all  the  Country  thereabouts  were  in  alarm,  they  were  said 
to  be  Delawar  Indians,  who  always  had  i)rofes'd  themselves 
friends  to  the  English — But  of  late  seem'd  to  be  wavering. 

Goshen  is  between  New  York  and  Albany  up  Hudsons 
River  (call'd  at  New  York  the  North  River)  back  of  the  High- 
lands, on  the  other  side  the  River  with  New  York — at  (JO 
miles  from  New  York — N.  B.    We've  had  the  Winter  hitherto 


. 


:> 


•  See  New  York  Colunial  Documents,  vit,  96. 


676 


AMERICAN   HISTOHICAL    ASSOCIATION. 


very  moderate  almost  evry  day  like  Spring  and  can't  hear  of 
any  snow  hciufj;  fall'n  yet  to  the  Northward. 
Endorsed: — Copy  of  an  lntercepte<lJjetter — directed  a  Mon 
Seigneur.     Mon  Seigneur  Le  Ducde  Mirepoix 
a  PariH. 

inclosing  tLe  h)ng  Letter  herewith  sent,  to  the 
sd.  Due  de  Mirepoix. — came  from  N.  York,  by 
a  English  Sloop. 
The  Original  of  this  Letter  was  given  to  Col"  Webb. 


i'f 


Shi 

III 
III 


4.  "FILIUS  GALLIC^:"  TO  THE  UUIvE  DE  MIREPOIX. 

America  March  1"*  1756 
May  it  please  your  Grace 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  your  Grace  to  what  I  wrote  y'  G"^:  the  6"' 
of  Jany  last  which  1  sent  under  cover  to  M'  John  de  Neufville 
Merch'  at  Amsterdam,  and  a  copy  to  M'  Joshua  Vaneck  in 
London  and  now  according  to  my  Promise  acquaint  y"^  (r*" 
that  1  have  since  Levied  10,000  flue  men,  such  as  I  woud  have 
and  shall  soon  have  my  compliment  of  15,000.  I  have  by  the 
bye  Intimated  to  my  Aid  de  Camp  and  some  of  the  officers 
something  of  what  I.wrote  y  G' :  and  find,  that  If  I  am  assisted 
as  requested  of  y'  G':  I  shall  gain  my  Point;  But  if  I 
should  not  hear  from  y"^:  G"^:  by  the  1"'  of  next  July,  I  shall 
conclude  y:  G'':  has  not  Digued  me  an  answer  and  shan't  for 
the  future  trouble  y'  H":  any  more,  but '11  content  myself  to 
end  my  ])ay8  in  this  Country,  and  Instead  of  being  a  friend  to 
my  King  and  Country,  I  shall  be  oblidged  to  act  ag"'  both  and 
become  an  Enemy  to  them  but  1  trust  and  flatter  myself  that 
y  G':  '11  answer  me  and  if  y"^  G"^:  thinks  me  Worthy  y  Gr» 
Corrispoudence  I  woud  now  beg  y  Gr^  favour  to  Inform  me 
how  and  in  what  manner  to  Direct  for  the  future  to  y  G"^:  to 
whose  care  &c*  I  must  order  my  Letters  &c*  to  be  forwarded 
to  y  G'.  for  I  have  been  strangely  puzzled  about  sending  these 
I  have  wrove  to  y  G'.  and  when  I  may  again  write  to  y'  G"^ :  it 
shall  be  in  French  w"''  is  my  own  Language  I  would  also  be 
Informed  by  y  G'' :  to  whom  it  woud  be  i)roper  for  me  here- 
after to  send  an  acco*  &c''  to  of  these  parts  &c'»  in  case  y^  G' 
should  be  absent  Ac" 
I  am  as  afore 

Your  Grace's  Most  devoted  Servant 

Filius  GallicjB 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


677 


P.  S.  I  was  inlbrnuMl  that  both  my  Letters  w''  were  sent 
to  New  York  was  put  aboard  the  Nij-htiiigale  Man  of  War 
Hound  t<»  London  (there  beinjj  no  other  Vessell  at  the  time 
J)esi};n'd  for  Eui(>i)e)  w'''  did  not  sail  from  tlie  hook  afore  the 
7"'  nit:  The  liook  is  twenty  miles  from  New  York  Harbour 
from  whence  all  their  vessells  i)ut  into  Sea,  I  am  Tiot  now 
under  the  Least  Concern  in  case  any  of  my  Letters  to  y  (t"": 
should  bo  inspected;  that  it  wou<l  be  a  prejudi<*e  (o  me,  for  I 
am  from  my  behaviour  amonjj  the  English  here  in  that  Vo^ue 
among  them, — that  I  should  not  i>»  the  Least  be  suspected, 
But  it  would  be  Imagined  that  those  Letters  were  forged  by 
some  Malicious  Persons,  to  umlernsine  me  and  f  can  easily 
deny  them  if  they  shoud  come  ag"'  me  as  my  name  is  not 
fixed  and  I  in  a  great  measure  contertieted  a  Dittereut  hand 
from  what  I  naturally  write,  as  I  have  already  mentioned  to 
y  G^  to  whom  I  ha\  e  under  cover  Directed  them.  In  <!ase 
they  slioud  not  be  <!ome  to  y''  Gr\  hands  ere  this,  y"'  Grace  '11 
hereby  Knowof  whom  to  Demand  them.  In  those  Letters  I  gave 
y  G':  Proper  Directions  to  me  <S:c"  and  beged  y"^  G'':  to  be  as 
expeditious  to  me  as  Possible  and  seem'd  afear'd  that  I  shoud 
not  be  able  to  hear  from  y''  (T"^:intime, — but  now  Inform  yiG"": 
that  y^:  Gr:  '11  have  time  enough  even  after  the  receipt  of  this 
for  here  are  not  near  Arms  «S:c"  enough  at  present  for  the 
number  of  men  I  have  already  reased;  and  it's  but  Lately  that 
uhey  have  been  wrote  for;  as  well  from  Holland  as  from  Eng- 
land, w"**  don't  expect  'II  be  here  afore  the  1"'  of  next  June. 
Y'our  Grace  must  know  that  this  army  is  not  reased  at  the 
Expence  of  the  Crown  of  lirittain,  but  at  the  I'rivate  Expense 
of  the  Different  Governments  to  the  Westward  here, — who 
order  and  Direct  everything  about  it  themselves — and  when 
ready  as  a  Comp".  to  M'  Shirley  it  is  to  be  submitted  to  his 
order  and  Direction  W'  will  agree  with  theirs — ,  But  I  hope 
it  '11  be  Governed  by  your  Gr.ice's  orders  and  commands. 

N.  B.  Peusylvania  is  not  inmiediately  under  the  Crown  of 
Brittain  but  is  a  proprietary  Government  under  Pen, 

I  begyr:  Gr:  to  send  to  me  immediately,  and  I  trust  yr:  Gr: 
'11  be  sending  to  me  all  next  summer,  for  on  Keceipt  of  the 
first  Letters  and  sum  of  money  from  yr:  Gr:  I  am  so  persuaded 
of  success,  that  I  shall  look  on  all  the  Countries  to  the  West- 
ward as  our  own.  I  woud  not  have  y  Gr :  be  under  any  appre- 
hensions of  fear  on  my  acco*  from  the  armies  of  Shiiley  and 
Johnson,  they  being  at  so  great  a  Distance  from  me — that  T 
shall  be  Master  of  those  Countries  afore  they  can  in  the  least 


"I 


III 


673 


AMERICAN   niSTOllICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


•4 


% 


%  1 


! 


i;-l 


III 

r 


molest  rao,  and  tliey  may  bo  cut  off  afore  they  can  come  near 
me — Besides  when  I  have  wluit  I  have  required  o\'  y'Gr:  I 
doubt  not  but  I  shall  be  able  to  Draw  tlie  greatest  part  of  their 
armies  over  to  me. 

Tliert  has  lately  been  tiiree  lOnglish  men  taken  np  who 
proved  to  be  spies  sent  from  Canada  one  of  'em  was  found 
Listing  men  anumg  tiie  (Jermans  to  send  'em  cJf  to  foit  du 
Quesne  on  the  Ohio,  they  are  jmt  in  Irons  in  Close  Prison.  If 
the  Canadians  did  know  what  I  am  about  they  might  spare 
themselves  the  trouble. 

We've  an  acco'  here — that  they  are  raising  a  great  force  and 
making  great  Preparations  in  Canada  ag"*  the  English,  and 
have  built  severall  Vessells  of  force  at  Lake  Ontario. 

The  French  have  built  a  fort  not  more  than  40  Miles  from 
Bethelehem — while  the  Indians  were  invading  those  Parts — 
there  is  a  body  of  upwards  c  3,000  Shawanese  an<l  Delaware 
Ac"  Indians  now  in  the  French  Interest  w"''  make  these  In- 
roads— these  Indians  were  formerly  in  the  English  Inter*  but 
since  the  Defeat  of  Hraddoiik,  they  have  taken  up  the  hatchet 
ag'*  them — (Bethelehem  is  a  town  settled  by  a  People  called 
here — the  Moravian  Brethern  about  60  miles  back  of  Phil*) 
but  the  Cherokees  who  are  very  numerous  and  have  never 
been  conquered  have  entered  into  alliance  with  the  English 
and  choose  (in  great  form)  King  George  as  their  King  and 
father — they  have  offerred  me  1000  of  their  men  to  join  me  at 
the  Ohio  provided  I  woud  take  them  in  the  Govern*'  pay:  this 
I  have  mentioned  to  the  Governments — but  they  rather  chuse 
that  Gov""  Shirley  ahoud  allow  them  the  King's  pay,  I  have 
accordingly  Dispatched  an  officer  with  this  message  to  Gov' 
Shirley  (who  is  now  at  his  Govern*  at  Boston)  to  know  his 
pleasure  ab*  it. 

The  Cherokee  Indian  Nation  inhabit  the  Countries  back  of 
South  Carolina.  South  Carolina  is  the  place  where  most  of  the 
Vessells  that  are  bound  from  these  parts  to  Holland  go  to  Load 
with  rice. 

I  have  heard  that  the  Indians  in  his  most  christian  Majesty's 
Inter*  have  also  made  Inroads  on  the  Western  frontiers  of 
Boston. 

I  have  also  heard  that  Mons"^  Dieskau's  Aid  de  Camp  was 
sent  over  to  England  in  the  Nightingale  Man  of  War  but  I  fear 
he'll  be  more  confined  there  so  as  not  to  be  able  to  give  any 
Intelligences  of  these  Parts. 


I  ■ 


INTBRCEPTRD   LETTKR8,    1756. 


679 


lear 
•:  I 

leir 


N.  B.  I  mentioned  to  y"^  (Ir:  on  tho  cover  of  tlio  copy,  w'** 
was  Hent  to  the  care  of  M"^  Joslina  Vaneck,  (tho  family  of  M' 
Vaneck  I  was  Introduced  to  when  I  Hrst  Left  France  and  as  I 
soon  Left  London  for  these  Parts,  I  H<'arce  knew  any  other 
there)  of  a  body  of  IKM),  Indians  tliat  appeared  at  (>oshen;> 
a  plac(4  between  Albany  and  New  York;  that  body  haa  since 
been  (^uiet  by  a  throat  sent  them  from  tlie  Mohawks — I  also 
on  s''  cover  mentioned  to  y  (Ir:  the  great  number  of  Irish  &c» 
that  have  been  transported  from  Kn;xland  to  Vir^rinia  and 
Philadelphia  for  tho  better  j)eoplin;>  of  the  King's  plantations 
and  also  of  the  Vast  number  of  (lermans,  that  have  been 
yearly  imported  from  Holland,  who  are  all  very  poor  and  are 
oblidgcd  to  sell  themselves  to  the  Inhabitants  to  pay  their 
Passage.  Most  of  the  above  Pooph?  are  of  the  true  Roman 
Cfitholick  Koligion  and  I  am  persuaded  they  wou'd  rather 
(from  principle)  chuse  to  serve  my  lioyal  Master.  I  also  men- 
tioned to  y  G^:  that  most  of  the  hereticks  have  minded  lu) 
other  Religion  than  that  of  getting  money,  i"tc"  «S:c"  and  that  I 
believed  they  might  be  hire<l  to  any  thing;  this  I  am  now  the 
more  convinced  of!"  oven  among  the  best  and  richest  of  'em — 
for  being  in  club  a  few  nights  ago,  where  the  Chief  Topick 
was  upon  the  Desolate  Condition  the  British  (Jollonies  to  the 
We!«t  ward  were  in  at  present,  maney  of  'em  said,  in  good 
earnest  that  it  woud  be  the  same  thing  to  them  who  was  their 
King,  whether  the  King  of  England  or  tho  King  of  France, 
provided  they  enjoyed  their  Estates  they  had  here  unmolested — 
1  mention  this  &c"  to  Let  yMIr:  seethe  Disposition  <»f  some  of 
King  George's  subjects  here,  &c*  and  what  encouragement  I 
have  of  success,  but  I  fear  1  have  again  trespassed  upon  y 
Gr"  patience,  and  again  assure  y'  (Jr :  that  it  was  not  my  Inten- 
tion at  first  to  draw  this  to  such  length  and  tho'  I  make  so 
much  time  (w'"'  is  very  agreeable  to  me)  to  write  to  yG"^.  I  am 
dayly  so  much  hurried  as  to  've  scarce  Leisure  to  eat  my 
meals — ami  now  bid  y  Grace  adieu  untill  I  shall  be  blessed 
fi  OMi  y'  Grace,  w<^''  I  do  soon  expect,  for  I  doubt  not  but  y 
Grace  '11  be  as  ready  to  serve  our  grand  monarch  as  myself. 
3d  Copy 

N.  B.  the  1«*  and  2''  of  this  date  were  Directed  under  cover 
to  tlve  same  hands  as  the  former,  but  Least  they  might  not  be 
immediately  forwarded  to  y  Grace,  I  shall  Deliver  this  Last 

>  See  note  to  Xo.  3,  supr*. 


h 


%  A 


680 


AMERICAN   HISTOBICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


copy  to  one  of  my  offlcens,  wliom  I  can  confide  in,  to  be  for- 
warded to  any  of  his  friends  in  Ireland. 
Endorsed : — 

A  Men  Seigneur 

Monaeigneur  Le  Due  de  Mirepoix 
a 

Paris 
NB:  the  1'*  and  2'*  of  this  date  W'  were  again  sent  to  New 
York  to  be  forwarded  from  thence,  I  have  hear,  were  put 
aboard  the  Packet  there,  Bound  to  London. 


,:« 


! 

I 


«.  "JAMES  ALLEN"  TO  MENKV  GAMBLE. 
Copy  Philadelphia  March  3''  1756 

s-- 

Having  neglected  a  conveyance  I  had  from  hence  to  Holland, 
and  asking  niy  Friend  M"^  Eedmond  Gunnynfi^ham,  if  He  Knew 
of  any  other  Vessel  for  Europe,  he  informed  me  that  there  was 
one  Lying  ready  at  New  York  bound  to  Newry,  and  said,  He 
would  take  Care  to  forward  the  Enclosed  for  me,  But  Master 
Gamble  (who  without  Flattery  is  a  pretty  promising  youth) 
desired  me  to  send  it  to  your  care,  assuring  me,  it  would  not 
be  delayed  with  you,  so  I  have  made  free  to  trouble  you  with 
it,  requesting  you  would  have  it  sent,  P  first  oppy  and  I  shall 
send  it  to  New  York  to  have  it  put  aboard  s'^  Yessell — .  as  this 
Letter  to  the  Duke  contains  chiefly  a  complaint  made  for  In- 
juries suffered  by  the  french  you'll  greatly  oblige  the  parties 
concerned,  and  it  shall  be  acknowledged  by, 
Y"^  unknown  Hb'"  Serv* 

James  Allen 

Directed 

To 

M""  Henry  Gamble 
at 

Londonderry 
Via  New  York. 
Endorsed ; — Copy  of  a  Ijetter  from 

James  Allen  to  M*  Henry  Gamble 
Philadelphia  March  3''  ITilG 
The  Original  of  this    Letter  was  given   to  the    Earl   of 
Loudoun. 


BHWiMi 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756.  631 

6.  "FILIUS  GALLICS."  TO  THE  DUKE  DE  MIREl'OIX. 

Copy  America  March  19*''  1756 

May  it  please  your  Grace, 

I  ask  your  Grace's  Pardon  for  troubling  your  Grace  ajjain 
vrbeu  I  said  1  wou'd  not,  but  cannot  omit  ac(iuaintinjj  your 
Gr:  that  I  have  disclosed  in  a  great  Measure  what  I  have 
wrote  to  Your  Grace  to  ten  of  my  Oflicera  who  I  know  I  could 
confide  in,  and  We  have  all  f  oleninly  sworn  to  each  other  (in 
case  my  Kequest  to  your  Grace  be  granted)  not  to  sheath  the 
Sword  'till  all  the  Country  to  the  Westward  and  Sonth  ward 
be  the  Property  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty.  And  as  we 
are  all  sensible  in  an  Enterprise  of  this  Nature  that  We  must 
either  vanquisli  or  perish  in  the  attempt.  We  are  i)repared  to 
meet  whatever  Fate  may  attend  us  in  behalf  of  our  King  and 
Country — these  Ofticers  assure  me  that  most  of  the  Men  they 
have  listed  are  of  the  true  lioman  Catholick  Religion  and  do 
not  in  the  least  doubt  but  that  they'll  very  easily  i)revail  with 
them  to  join  them,  but  we  shan't  dare  to  trust  them  till  We 
hear  from  your  Gr:  I  wou'd  still  further  reijuest  the  favour  of 
yr :  Gr : ,  to  cause  to  be  sent  immediately  to  The  proper  Passes 
from  his  most  Christian  Majesty  for  Liberty  to  pass  thro  any 
of  his  Dominions  either  by  Sea  or  Laiul  for  Persons  and  Ves- 
sells,  I  shall  have  Occasion  to  employ,  there  may  be  r»lank8 
left  for  their  Names.    1  shall  soon  be  in  want  of  them. 

I  wou'd  observe  to  yr:  Gr:  that  the  Armies  of  Shirley  and 
Johnson  will  not  be  made  up  to  the  Number  I  at  first  men- 
tioned nor  near  so  soon  ready,  these  generals  are  obliged  to 
give  large  Bounties  to  the  Men  they  now  enlist — the  New  Eng- 
land Troops  viz,  w' ''  last  year  only  for  a  twelve  month  being 
sent  home  during  the  Winter  Season  will  by  no  Means  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  return  and  serve  again  this  year,  and  many  of 
their  men  have  deserted  since  they've  been  in  Quarters  and 
altlio'  the  Winter  has  been  Exceeding  moderate  in  these  i)arts, 
there  has  been  scarce  nothing  done  towards  the  Expeditions 
to  be  carried  on  by  said  generals  this  year — they  liave  but 
lately  began  to  enlist  men  to  compleat  their  compliment,  and 
raize  them  very  slowly.  The  Difterences  between  the  Different 
Governments  there  still  subsist;  and  even  in  each  City  there 
are  Parties  against  each  other — 1  mention  this  again  to  let  yr: 
Gr:  see  the  delitoriness  &c  of  the  English  here,  and  cou'd 
wish  the  Canadians  were  made  sensible  of  it,  the  Governments 


T 


I* 
i 


t' 


ia 


IV 


h 


682 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


I! 


I  I 


.11 


: 


here  to  the  Westward  (notwithstanding  the  Defeat  of  Brad- 
dock  last  year,  and  Major  Washington  the  year  afore,  and  the 
Invasions  on  their  Frontiers  at  present)  seem  to  be  much  the 
same  employed  \7ith  the  other  Governments  in  scribbling  one 
against  another  and  often  publickly  in  their  Gazettes,  but  I 
don't  find  that  any  of  their  scandalous  Disputes  were  inserted. 
They  are  so  busied  with  each  other  that  they  leave  every  thing 
now  with  regard  to  the  Army — they  have  highly  applauded 
the  Secrecy  and  Dispatch  in  which  I  ha»e  acted,  for  no  men- 
tion is  scarce  made  of  my  enlisting  men — and  the  Printers 
have  been  strictly  forbid  to  insert  any  thing  about  it  in  their 
Papers,  least  the  French  might  hear  of  it,  as  the  above  men- 
tioned defeats  were  chiefly  owing  to  Intelligences  the  French 
had  got,  and  must  acquaint  yr :  Gr :  that  those  Defeats  are  the 
cause  in  a  great  Measure  of  their  exerting  themselves  jhus  at 
this  time. 

TheQuakers  of  Philadelphia  &cchearfully  contribute  towards 
my  raising  men  to  free  them  and  country  from  invasions  of  the 
french  and  Indians  but  will  not,  notwithstanding  all  the 
Calamities  they  have  already  suffered  from  the  War  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  have  a  proper  Militia  A  ct  pretending  it's  against 
their  Religion  to  bear  arms  (tho'  the  other  Citizens  have  asso- 
ciated and  formed  a  compleat  Regiment)  how  easily  is  a  coun- 
try conquered  when  the  People  are  thus  infatuated,  and  while 
their  Heads  and  Rulers  Keep  thus  divided — there  are  some  in 
the  armies  of  Shirley  and  tlohnson  in  my  Interest,  who  are  pri- 
vately causing  discontents  among  the  soldiers— I  have  com- 
plained to  the  Philadelphia  Assembly  of  Shirley  and  Dunbar 
&c  having  their  recruiting OflBcers  in  Pensylvania  to  enlist  their 
Men;  at  a  time  when  we  want  them  so  much  for  the  frontiers 
to  the  Westward  &c\  Since  my  last  Letter  to  yr :  Gr :  most  of 
the  ablebodied  Acadians,  which  have  been  transported  from 
Nova  Scotia  and  dispersed  thro' out  these  Oolonies  have  flocked 
to  me,  and  enlisted  under  me,  and  this  is  approved  of  by  the 
(governors,  Oh!  Blindness  and  Stupidity  of  the  English  to 
Imagine  such  men  will  fight  their  Battles  who  wou'd  rather 
chuse  to  cut  their  Throats,  but  their  confidence  in  me  makes 
them  thus  careless  at  this  time.  My  Officers  to  the  Southward 
and  here  have  enlisted  1800  Germans  and  Irish  &c  besides 
since  my  last,  and  now  only  lack  about  2200  which  I  shall 
soon  get — W'  a  fair  opportunity  has  his  Majesty  at  this  Time 
to  gain  whatever  he  pleasea  in  America,  mv"^  if  neglected  will 


iWflM 


INTERCEPTED   i-ETTERS,    1756. 


683 


be  too  late  for  ine  to  intiuence  the  Soldiery,  as  I  sliall  now  be 
able  to  do,  and  it  will  never  hereafter  be  in  my  Power  to  offer 
thus  again,  as  I  shall  be  obliged  to  destroy  those  Countries  and 
People  whose  assistance  wou'd  otherwise  be  of  great  Service, 
and  those  Indians  which  are  now  so  hearty  in  his  Majesty's  cause 
must  Join  me  for  their  own  safety,  for  my  Orders  are  to  carry 
fire  and  Sword  as  far  as  I  can  go  for  which  purpose  I  have 
cliosen  men  (not  such  as  IJraddock  brought  over  to  be  frigbt- 
tened  and  put  in  Confusion  by  the  yellowing  and  hooping  of  the 
Indians)  and  must  acquaint  yr:  Gr:  that  Shirley's  and  John- 
son's Armies  have  also  picked  men,  for  altho'  the  English  are 
jangling  together  (which  considerably  delays  and  Injures  their 
Expeditions)  they  wou'd  seem  as  if  they  were  determined  now 
to  do  their  utmost  endeavours  to  drive  the  ffrench  (if  possible) 
oat  of  America,  that  they  may  no  more  be  under  their  Invasion 
and  must  say  that  were  they  heartily  united  they  wou'd  be 
considerably  an  Overmatch  for  the  ffrench  they  are  much  more 
numerous,  and  have  the  best  Countries,  and  much  Wealth 
among  them — I  have  at  this  Time  considerable  to  communicate 
to  y"^  Gr:  if  I  shou'd  be  assured  of  what  I  requested,  but  I'll 
content  with  what  I  have  already  intimated  to  y  Gr :  in  hopes 
of  being  better  able  to  do  it  hereafter — and  now  can  thus  far 
rest  satisfied  to  my  conscience  that  I  have  in  part  discharged 
my  duty  and  affection  to  my  King  and  Country  and  my 
Engagements  at  Canada  and  now  assure  y^  Gr:  that  these 
shall  be  my  last  Letters  that  yr:  Gr:  shall  receive  from  me 
without  your  Grace's  Commands,  I  woud  observe  to  yr:  Gr: 
that  my  last  Letters  to  yi-:  Gr:  were  dated  the  1"'  March,  tho' 
they  were  writ  the  20*''  ffebs"  for  a  peculiar  Reason  to  myself, 
they  were  again  immediately  sent  to  New  York  (where  I  had 
heard  were  Vessells  lyin^x  ready  to  sail  for  Europe)  under  cover 
to  Messrs  Joshua  Vaneck  in  London  and  John  Neufville  jit 
Amsterdam  and  were  put  aboard  the  packet  boat  w'*'  sailed 

the  next for  London,  but  these  is  written  this  Day,  my 

first  Letters  sent  last  .lan'^y  to  y*^  Gr-  were  also  under  cover  to 
said  Mess:  Vaneck  and  de  Neufville,  and  were  put  aboard  the 
Nightingale  Man  of  War,  but  did  not  with  that  Dispatch  my 
last  Letters  did,  for  said  Man  of  War  lay  waiting  about  3  weeks 
for  a  Wind  which  is  uncommon  at  that  T''.ne  of  the  year,  y^  Gr : 
will  be  pleased  to  observe  that  the  chief  of  what  I  wrote  is 
hints  of  my  design  upon  the  English,  and  to  shew  the  great 
probability  there  is,  and  with  how  much  ease  his  Majesty  may 


v^ 


f 


*■    • 


V 


I 


684 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


•t;= 


Mf 


I 
I 


i^ 


subdue  them  at  tiiis  Tiino  (which  is  the  only  thing  needful!  at 
present  to  write)  and  to  induce  your  Gr:  to  cause  me  to  be 
enabled  thereto,  1  have  wrote  y^Gr:  nothing  but  plain  Matters 
of  fact,  but  must  confess  I  can't  so  well  explain  myself  this  way 
as  verbfitim  I  inform'd  y'.  Gr:  at  first  that  I  was  not  designed 
a  Scribler,  but  was  bred  to  the  Army,  and  if  my  writing  is  not 
so  elegant  and  correct  as  it  shou'd  be,  I  trust  your  Grace's 
goodness  will  excuse  me,  for  I  dare  not  yet  trust  any  to  copy 
my  Letters:  I  pray  yourG':  notwitlistanding  the  incorrect- 
ness of  them  to  pay  a  due  regard  to  what  1  have  wrote  and  said 
I  am 

With  all  du*}  deference  and  Eespect  to  y""  Gr: 
your  Grace's  most  obed'. 

Humble  Servant 

Filius  Gallicae 
P.  S.  I  have  in  my  !»'  Letters  given  y  Gr :  proper  directions 
for  me,  and  have  since  wrote  y'  Gr:  to  whose  care  I  had  sent 
them,  and  if  yr :  Gr :  will  be  pleased  to  direct 
To 

M'  Pierre  Fidell 

to  be  left  at  M"^  Eoemers 

Coffee  House  (until  asked  for) 

in  New  York  in  America 

it  will  without  fail  come  to  my  hand — 

Endorsed :  Intercept   \  Letter  to  the 
Due  de  Mirepoix 

March  19  1756 


t.  THE  E.aiL  OF  HALIFAX '    TO  SIR  CHARLES  HARDY." 
Copy]  Grosvenor  Square  March  19, 175G 

Sir  Charles  Hardy  Bart  ) 

Governor  of  New  York  ) 

Dear  Sir 

This  Letter,  which  I  write  to  you  upon  a  very  particular 
occasion,  shall  be  solely  confined  to  it;  and  I  will  not  mix  any 
other  Matter  that  may  draw  your  attention  from  it. 

'  George  Montegiie  Duuk  (1716-1771)  earl  of  Hiilifnx,  afterwards  Secretary  of  State,  was 
from  1748  to  i  781,  with  slight  intorruptioiis,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plan- 
tations. 

*  Sir  Charles  Hardy  (n71(l-1780;.  afterwards  admiral,  served  as  governor  of  New  York 
from  Septttmber,  1755,  to  June,  1757. 


k  If 


wywi 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


685 


The  other  day  M'  Fox  sent  me  an  intercepted  Letter,  directed 
to  the  Duke  of  Mirepoix,  the  contents  of  which,  upon  a  fiill 
consideration  of  them ;  appear  to  uie  of  a  very  extraordinary 
Nature,  and  oi  the  utmost  Importance.  The  particulars  of  the 
Letter,  as  the  Original  will  be  put  into  your  Hands  by  Col" 
Webb,  I  will  not  enumerate,  nor  trouble  you  with  my  notion 
how  f'.e  Treason  may  be  best  discover'd,  as  I  have  given  my 
Thoughts  thereon  in  a  paper  Col.  Webb  will  deliver  to  you, 
you  and  He  will  make  such  Improvements  upon  my  proposal 
for  the  13iscovery  of  the  Author  of  the  anonymous  Letter,  as 
to  your  Judg'iments  shall  appear  right  and  most  conducive  to 
His  Majesty's  Service — But  whatever  be  the  method  you  shall 
think  proper  to  pursue,  I  would  recommend  to  you  to  keep 
them  as  secret  and  entrusted  to  as  few  as  possible. 

The  character  of  Teter  Joncourt'  in  many  respects  seems  to 
agree  with  the  Uescrii)tion  which  the  Author  of  the  Letter 
gives  of  himself;  But  whether  that  description  is  a  real  or 
fictitious  one  is  doubtful. 

In  many  respects  Lydius's'^  character  agrees  with  it;  in  some 
it  differs.  But  that  Difference  may  be  made  with  Design  to 
to  elude  Detection.  How  such  a  Fellow  as  Lydius  came  to  be 
employ'd  last  year  by  M'  Shirley,  is  matter  of  astonishment! 

What  inclines  me  to  think  much  more  seriously  of  the  anony- 
mous Letter  than  I  otherwise  should  do,  is  that  almost  every 
Fact  mentioned  in  it  is,  either  in  the  whole  or  in  great  part, 
true.  The  only  circumstance  of  it  tliat  appeared  new,  was  that 
a  large  Body  of  men  was  to  be  rais'd  ia  Pe..insylvania.  But 
upon  looking  carefully  over  the  Instructions  sent  by  M"^  Shirley 
to  S"^  W'"  Johnson,  when  at  Mount  Johnson  (a  copy  of  which 
we  have  lately  received  from  S'  William,  and  which  I  have 
likewise  given  to  Col"  Webb)  I  find  that  particular  conflrm'd. 
It  is  wonderful  however  to  me  that  jM"  Shirley  should  have 
engaged  in  such  a  Plan  without  accpiranting  Government  at 
home  with  it,  or  with  the  methods  by  which  he  purposes  carry- 
ing it  into  Execution. 

The  Orders  given  for  the  Indians  to  march  to  the  Ohio,  to 
examine  Fort  du  ( Juesne,  to  sound  the  Intentions  of  the  French, 
and  afterwards  to  return  to  Pennsylvania,  to  be  join'd  by  a 
Body  of  Forces,  are  very  mysterious,  or  at  least  very  vague 
visionary  and  absurd. 


l:L 


1^ 


'  j?eter  de  Junoourt  was  French  interpreter  to  the  (Jovnmmout  of  New  Tork. 

'  John  Henry  Iiydius,  8(iu  of  u  ltl;^l'lll('(l  iin.stor  nt  Antwer]).  had  bm-n  iiger.t  of  !MaBa<^- 
chusutts  at  Albany.  Shirley  niado  him  a  colonel  of  Indians,  much  to  Sir  William  iJohn- 
son's  disgust.    See  post,  No.  8. 


i 


i;  v 


' 


686 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


lU 


rl 


The  Promise  that  their  Wives  and  children  shall  be  pro- 
tected in  a  strong  Place,  Avhen  there  is  none  I  know  of  in  those 
parts,  but  Fort  du  Quesne,  is  very  strange  to  me. 

If  Orders  have  been  given  to  raise  Forces  in  Pennsylvania, 
you  probably  know  of  it,  or  (be  they  ever  so  secret)  Gov*^  Mor- 
ris, I  should  imagine,  must.  If  not,  the  state  of  Things  is  rotten 
indeed!  Col"  Webb  supersedes  M'  Shirley's  command,  and 
has  it  Eight  to  know,  and  1  hope  will  kno,w  every  order  he  has 
given  and  the  names  of  every  person  he  has  employ'd  in  Amer- 
ica in  any  shape  or  character  whatever. 

But  as  M"^  Shirley  is  at  some  Distance  and  these  Matters 
may  not  be  so  soon  known  by  a  Correspondence  with  him,  I 
would  strongly  recommend  to  Col"  Webb  and  yourself,  privately 
to  get  every  Information  you  can  with  regard  to  every  particular 
Measure  taken  and  person  employ'd. 

You  will  observe  in  che  Letter  that  a  charge  of  Treason  is 
laid  upon  three  of  His  Majesty's  Officers.  I  know  none  of 
them,  and  hope  they  are  innocent.  But  as  the  clue  is  given, 
you  and  Col°  Webb  will  soon  be  able  to  form  a  judgement  of 
them.  One  guilty  person  apprehended  may  and  probably  will 
discover  more. 

Thus  I  leave  this  matter  with  you,  find  should  be  infinitely 
uneasy  if  the  Conduct  of  it  was  entrusted  to  any  other  Hands 
but  yours  and  Col"  Webbs. — It  may  be  nothing. — It  may  be  an 
Artifice  to  draw  a  little  money  from  France — It  may  be  fraught 
with  some  other  wicked  Design. — But  on  the  other  hand,  it 
may  be  a  matter  of  the  highest  consequence  to  the  Wellfare  of 
America,  the  Safety  of  His  Majestys  Subjects,  and  the  Honor 
and  Success  of  his  Arms. 

I  have  never  conceived  the  least  suspicion  of  Disloyalty  in 
those  whom  His  Majesty  has  vested  with  command,  as  you  will 
easily  perceive  by  the  other  Letters  Col"  Y/ebb  has  in  charge 
for  you.  But  yet  there  are  circumstances  so  strange  with 
regard  to  this  whole  affair,  that  I  hold  it  my  indispensable 
Duty  to  recommend  the  whole  of  my  observations  to  your  most 
serious  Consideration.  But  I  must  strictly  enjoin  you  to  look 
upon  this  Letter  and  the  whole  Transaction  it  alludes  to,  as 
matter  of  Secrecy  between  Col"  Webb,  you  and  me.    I  am  etc 

Dunk  Halifax. 

P.  S.  M"^  Pownall  *  informs  me  that  one  Baron  Lak )  Augustin 
Davis^  (a  common  Soldier  in  M'^  Shirley's  Eegiment)  was  lately 

'  See  post,  No.  20. 

*ifohu  Pownall  w»s  Seci-etaiy  to  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plantations. 


Mamt«%r 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


687 


taken  up  as  a  Spy.    The  particulars  he  relates  couceruing  him 
are  of  an  extraordinary  nature  and  well  worthy  your  attention. 

Endorsed: — Copy  of  the  Earl  of  Halifax's  Letter  to  S' 
Charles  Hardy,  Gov'  of  New  York  dated  19  March  1756 


§.  EXTRACT  OF  A  REPORT 

Made  by  the  Commi8sion*<rs  employed  oa  the  part  of  the  Province  of 
I'ennsylvaniii  at  the  Meeting  at  Albany  in  1754. 

M"^  William  Alexander  of  New  York  was  kind  enough  to  tell 
us,  that  M'^  Woodbridge,  who  kept  an  Indian  School  at  Stock- 
bridge,  in  New  England  and  two  Connecticut  Gentlemen,  vizt. 

Were  in  Town  with  Intent  to  negociate  a  Purchase  from  the 
Indians  for  the  Susquehannah  Lands  lying  within  the  Latitude 
of  the  Connecticut  Charter,  in  favour  of  some  private  Persons 
of  that  Government,  and  had  with  them  a  Thousand  Pieces  of 
Eight,  and  were  busy,  conferring  with  the  Indians  on  this  sub- 
ject, at  the  House;  and  thro'  the  Means  of  M"^  Lydius. 

This  Lydius'  is  an  Inhabitant  of  Albany  known  to  have 
abjured  the  Protestant  Keligion  in  Canada,  and  to  be  concerned 
in  a  Clandestine  Trade  with  the  Caghnawaga  or  French  pray- 
ing Indians,  and  suspected  to  carry  on  a  Secret  Correspondence 
with  the  Government  of  Canada;  and,  as  M"^  Alexander  in- 
formed us,  might  not  only  have  lucrative  Views,  in  the  Manage- 
ment of  this  Purchase,  but  a  Design  to  sow  Dissentions,  as  well 
between  the  Indian  Nations,  as  between  the  Several  Colonies, 
whose  Lands  lay  within  the  I^atitude  of  the  Connecticut  Charter. 
Endorsed: — Extract  of  the  Report  made 

by  the  Commissioners  employed 

on  the  Part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 

at  the  Meeting  at  Albany  in  1754. 


9.  COLONEL  DANIEL  WEBB  -'  TO  HENRY  F.OX. 

Portsmouth  March  30"'  1756 
Sir, 

In  obedience  to  His  Majesty's  Commands  which  I  have  had 
the  Honor  to  receive  from  you  by  Mitchel  the  Messenger,  I 
shall  proceed  to  Plimouth  the  moment  the  winds  will  permit, 
an<l  shall  endeavor  to  execute  all  things  required  of  me  to  the 
best  of  my  power  and  capacity. 

•  See  the  preceding  letter. 

>  Colonel  Webb  w.ih  Hent  out  to  take  the  chief  coniumiul  from  Shirley  aud  hold  it  till 
the  arrival  of  A.berprouibip, 


■K^i^MaMMMMI 


( 


688 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


I  have  been  also  honored  with  two  letters  from  you,  and 
with  a  Copy  of  a  second  lntercei)t  letter,  and  no  pains  shall 
be  8i)ared  on  my  part  to  endeavor  to  discover  the  Author,  and 
to  brinf?  whoever  may  be  concerned  to  answer  as  they  deserve 
for  so  bold  and  destructive  an  undertaking,  the  delay  in  the 
Messengers  returning  in  proper  time,  was  owing  to  my  going 
a  Saturday  evening  to  the  He  of  Wight,  to  take  leave  of  a 
good  old  Aunt  and  some  other  relations,  and  the  terapestious- 
ness  of  the  weather  a  Sunday  that,  prevented  my  Servants 
getting  over  with  the  Dispatches,  altho'  he  had  a  strugle  with 
the  winds  in  the  Notinghams  long  boat  for  near  six  hours,  this 
whole  day  indeed  was  employed  in  writing  a  Copy  of  the  flrst 
Intercepted  Letter,  which  I  have  the  honor  to  send  by  this 
Messenger,  the  Smalluess  of  the  writing  and  closeness  of  the 
lines  have  so  strained  my  eyes,  tliat  if  M'  P.  F.'s  was  in  my 
custody,  few  arguments  would  be  necessary  to  persuade  his 
dispatch, 

1  am  with  the  greatest  respect 
Sir 
Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  Servant 

Daniel  Webb. 

P.  S.  1  beg  pardon  for  having  omited  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  the  extract  of  a  letter  from  Pensylvauia 
Indorsed : — Portsmouth 

March  30^''  175G 
Colonel  Webb 
E-i  31«t  by  Mytton 


I 
4t 


lO.  THE  EARL  OF  HALIFAX  TO  SIR  CHARLES  HARDY. 

Duplicate.  Grosv"^  Square  March  the  31«*  1756 

Dear  Sir 

Colonel  Webb,  to  whose  care  I  have  already  committed  two 
Packetts  for  you,  (the  last  containing  matter  of  the  highest 
importance  to  His  Majesty's  Service)  not  being  yet  sailed,  gives 
me  an  opportunity  of  acknowledging  the  Keceipt  of  your  Let- 
ter by  M"^  Pownall,  and  likewise  that  of  the  23'"'^  of  February ; 
for  both  which  I  desire  you  would  accept  my  best  thanks.  I 
should  not  however  have  troubled  you  again  so  soon,  but  that 
I  hold  it  requisite  to  embrace  the  first  occasion  of  acquainting 
you  with  some  new  determinations  of  His  Majestys  Servants 
on  the  subject  of  the  anonymous  Letters  lately  intercepted. 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


689 


I  thiuk  I  observed  in  my  last  to  you,  that  I  consi<ler'd  the 
first  anonymous  Letter  more  worthy  attention  on  account  of 
every  particular  contained  in  it  being  either  in  the  whole,  or 
in  part  true,  excepting  that  ot  the  large  Bodies  of  men  r.iising 
in  Pennsylvania;  which  is  now  confirmed  not  only  by  the  pub- 
lick  American  Prints  transmitted  to  England,  but  by  a  variety 
of  private  Letters,  some  of  which  I  have  seen.    This  has 
inclined  Ministers  to  think  more  seriously  of  the  matter,  than 
they  did  before,  and  indeed  they  all  agree  in  opinion  with  me, 
that  there  is  Treason  somewhere,  and  that  the  utmost  expedi- 
tion and  diligence  should  be  used  in  the  detection  of  it;  which 
from  one  particular  circumstance  in  the  last  intercepted  Letter 
will  I  hope  prove  matter  of  no  difficulty :  The  author  of  it  says, 
"that  theCherokees  have  made  him  an  offer  of  some  hundred 
men,  and  that  he  has  transmitted  that  otter  to  General  Shir- 
ley."   Now,  if  it  be  no  already,  it  may  easily  be  known,  to  whom 
the  Cherokees  have  made  that  otter,  and  by  whom  the  offer 
was  transmitted  to  M'  Shirley;  Another  Circumstance,  which, 
if  true,  would  lead  to  detection,  is  that  of  his  Aid  de  Camp, 
which  the  Author  mentions.    1  can't  conceive  that  any  one  in 
Pensylvauia  or  Virginia  (for  from  one  of  tliose  provinces  the 
Letters  seem  to  have  been  wrote)  is  of  a  Character  to  have  an 
Aid  de  Camp ;  but  if  there  is,  it  must  surely  be  known  who 
that  person  is.    Washington,  I  find,  by  private  Letters  is  to 
command  to  the  Westward,  but  I  don't  know  it  authentically, 
M'  Shirley  never  having  acquainted  us  of  his  having  appointed 
any  body  to  such  a  Command,  which  to  me  ajipears  very  extra 
ordinary.    I  know  nothing  of  M"^  Washington's  character,  but, 
tb9>  we  have  it  under  his  own  hand,  that  he  loves  the  whistling 
of  Bullets,  and  they  say  he  behaved  as  bravely  in  Braddocks 
action,  as  if  he  really  did.^    From  the  phraseology  of  the  Let- 
ters I  think  it  very  clear  they  were  not  wrote  by  a  frenchman, 


'  Halifax  is  here  amusing  liimself  with  a  boyish  expression  in  one  of  Wasliington's 
letters.  Horace  Walpole  scys  (Memoirs  of  George  the  Second,  i,347):  "In  the  express, 
which  Ma,jor  Washington  iWspatched  on  his  pjeceiliiig  little  victory  (the  skirmisli  with 
Junionville)  he  concluded  witli  these  words,  '  I  heard  the  bullets  whistle,  and,  believe  nie, 
there  is  something  charming  in  the  sound.'  On  hearing  of  tliis  the  King  said  sensibly, 
'He  would  not  say  so,  if  he  had  been  nsed  to  hear  many.'  However,  this  Oravo  braggart 
learned  to  blnsh  for  his  rhodomontade,  and,  desiring  <o  serve  (leneral  Braddock  as  aid-de- 
camp, acquitted  himself  nobly."  Sparks,  Washington,  n,  39,  40,  denied  that  such  a  senti- 
ment was  uttered  in  any  of  Washington's  letters  that  have  been  preserved ;  but  he  quotes 
from  Gordon,  ll,  203,  the  statement  that  when  a  gentleman  in  Cambridge  aslied  tlie  Gen- 
eral about  the  matter,  he  answered,  "  If  I  said  so,  it  was  wlien  I  was  young.  "  The  truth 
is,  that  the  sentence  occurs,  exactly  as  quoted  Iiy  Walpole,  not  in  the  oflicial  dispatch,  but 
in  a  letter  to  Washington's  brother,  whkli  was  printed  in  the  London  Mns^azine,  August, 
1754,  and  which  may  be  found  in  Ford's  Writings  of  Washington,  i,  89, 90. 

H.  Doc.  353 U 


690 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


as  tliey  pretend  to  be;  and  IVoin  ceituiu  \\ov(l»  (tho'  the  Letters 
are  in  general  well  8i>elt)  bcinj--  spelt  according  to  the  Irish 
pronuiKuation  I  am  apt  to  believe  the  Author  of  them  !»u  Irish 
mat-      Mt  Townall,'  tho'  his  name  shoidd  not  be  mentis    -'d  on 
the  occasion,  gives  me  reason  to  imagine  that  one  Croghau  is 
the  man,  and  orders  have  been  accordingly  given  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  8tate  for  the  apprehending  him.    The  Letter  however 
directed  to  Peter  Fidel  will  be  deposited  at  the  New  York 
Cotlee  House,  and  other  measures  recommended  before  lollowed. 
No  Suspicion  at  all  attends  M'  Sliirley,  but  numy  particulars 
of  the  last  years  Transactions  are  highly  disapproved,  and  I 
greatly  dislilce  his  present  beliaviour  in  his  Province;  ibment- 
ing  disputes,  promoting  ineffectual   Enquiries,  and  counte- 
nancing a  paper-war  against  your  Province  are  ill-adapted  to 
the  Complexion  c  f  tlie  Times,  and  tlie  Ueneflt  of  His  Majesty's 
Service.    Orders  are  given  for  his  return  to  England  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  tlie  reason  given  for  it  is,  that  he  maybe  con- 
sulted on  Several  matters  relative  to  the  King's  Service  in 
America. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  your  Provincti  have  come 
to  so  spirited  lie.wlutions;  but  I  am  ecpmlly  concerned  and 
surprized  to  find  that  no  steps  were  taken  in  23  days  after 
towards  following  so  good  an  example  in  the  lour  Governm'* 
of  New  England. 

I  am  happy  in  the  thought  of  your  chief  Difficulties  being 
removed  by  the  late  Permission  given  you  to  wave  a  part  of 
your  Instructions.— That  Honour  and  Happiness  may  «lttend 
you  in  your  Governm^  will  be  the  constant  and  sincere  wish 
of  Dear  Sir, 

^'niost  faith  full 

and  obedient  humble  Servant 

Dunk  Halifax 
To  His  Excellency 

Sir  Charles  Hardy. 
Endorsed:— The  Earl  of  Halifax's  Letter  to 
His  Excell'y  Sir  Cha's  Hardy. 
Gov  of  New  York. 
Duplicate 
Dated  March  the  31"  1756 


'  Tliia  might  be  Thomas  Powniill,  afterwards  jjovernorof  MasaachusettB,  who  was  in 
Enghind  for  a  short  tinio  tliis  spring;  but  it  is  iiuire  ))robably  his  brother  John,  secretary 
to  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plantations.  George  Croghan,  tlie  Indian  trader,  was,  I  am 
assured,  not  the  writer  of  the  letters. 


INTKUCEPTKl)    LETTKRrt,    1756. 
11.  HENKV  FOX  TO  COL.  HANIKL  WHHIt. 


691 


AVhitt'hulI  Mar(!l»  .{l"'  175(5. 
(^oloncl  Wfbh, 

Secret, 
Sir, 

The  Kiiif;  has  ooimnandcd  me  to  sifjniCy  llis  IMeasiire  to 
yon,  that  you  shouhl,  iiumt'diately  upon  your  iirriviil  in  North 
Anieru'a,  make  the  strictest  Knqiiiry,  in  ('oii.jui)ctioii  with  Sir 
Charles  Iliirdy,  into  tht  Author,  or  Autliors,  of  the  Two  anony- 
mous Letters,  hitely  interceptiul  from  Anunitia,  addressed  to 
the  Due  de  JMirepoix,  Copies  of  which  have  been  already  i>ut 
into  your  Hands;  and  you  will  call  to  your  assistance  and 
admit  to  your  Councils,  su<:h  (lovernours  of  His  Majesty's 
Trovinces,  or  such  other  Persons,  as  you  shall  judjje  necessary 
upon  this  Occasion.  It  has  been  surmised  here,  that  M' 
Georjjfe  Croghan,  a  principal  Trader,  and  employed  in  Indian 
affairs,  in  Pennsylvania,  may  possibly  have  been  concerned  in 
these  Letters;  you  will,  therefore,  make  i)articular  Encjuiry 
with  regard  to  llim,  and  if  you  shall  find  there  is  just  cause 
for  this  suspicion,  you  will  secure  Him,  and  all  other  suspected 
Persons,  as  soon  as  possible,  and  you  will  send  all  such  Pris- 
oners to  England,  with  the  Informations,  Examinations,  and 
material  I'^vidences  against  them.  I  am  to  desire  you  to  com- 
municate this  Letter,  together  with  those  Intercepted  Letters, 
that  make  the  subject  of  it,  to  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  acquainting 
Him,  that  this  is  to  be  considered  as  an  Instruction  to  Himself. 

You  will  be  pleased  to  return  to  me,  by  this  messenger,  the 
Blank  Warrants  1  put  into  your  Hands,  before  you  left  Lon- 
don, and  likewise  my  Letter  to  (iov  Shirley  upon  this  subject, 
the  same  being,  at  present,  unnecessary,  and  indeed  improper. 
I  am  (Sjc* 

H.  Fox 
P.  S. 

I  send  you,  under  Flying  Seal,  my  Letter  to  recall  Governor 
Shirley 

Endorsed:— March  31«^  175G 

By  Blackmore  to  1  My  mouth 
Secret. 


la.  THE  DUKE  OF  DEVONSHIRE'  TO  HENRY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

I  have  sent  you,  by  this  night's  Post,  a  very  extraordinary 
Letter,  which  came  in  a  Merchant  Ship  to  Newry,  consigned 

'Williaiu  Cavendish  (1720-1764),  dukii  of  Devonshire,  was  lord  lieiitonnut  of  Ireland 
from  March,  1755,  to  November,  1730,  wliou  lio  became  First  Lord  of  the  Treasury. 


692 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


to  one  M*^  (Gamble  at  Derry;  lie  oi)enod  it,  and  theu  sent  it  to 
me;  1  at  first  tliought  it  was  a  Counterfeit,  as  t>ie  Contents,  at 
the  Beifinning,  seemed  very  improbable,  but  It  is  so  uircum- 
stantial,  and  so  much  knowledge  of  the  Country  contained  in 
it,  that  I  imagine  It  must  be  genuine;  The  Letter  sign'd  Allen, 
if  I'oc  observe,  you  will,  find  to  be  the  same.  Hand  Wriciug  as 
the  other;  and  He  is  thought  to  be  a  Vopish  Priest. 

I  have  intercepted  a  Letter  from  Hatzell  to  Zobell,  directed 
to  Meister  Josep  Muller  at  M'  Brownell  Shoemaker  in  Chequer 
Lane,  Dublin:  It  it*  wrote  partly  in  Fiench,  an  i  i:3me  German 
in  it;  I  have  sent  it  to  Dublin  to  be  translateil,  and  question 
whether  It  will  be  done  time  enough  to  send  by  this  Night's 
Post;  as  soon  as  we  can  get  to  know  His  Person,  I  will  take 
care  to  have  Him  seized,  and  all  his  Papers. 

Endorsed: — Extract  of  a  Letter  from 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
to  M'  Fox 

Cartou  April  10"'  1756 


13.  HENRY  FOX  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  DEVONSHIRE. 

Whitehall  April  20*"  1766 
Duke  of  Devonshire 

Secret. 
My  Lord 

I  received,  yesterday,  the  Hoaor  of  your  Grace's  Letter  of 
the  10"»  Ins*,  together  with  That  to  M'  Gamble  of  London- 
derry, inclosing  a  very  extraordinary  one  to  the  Due  de  Mire- 
poix  from  America;  and,  in  order  to  assist  your  Grace  in  your 
furthr .'  Enquiry  I  have  the  King's  Commands  to  ac'xuaint  you, 
with  V.  lat  hgis  lately  passed  Here,  concernii;^  the  same  un- 
knort:  Correspondent. 

A  Letter,  dated  America,  the  6<^''  of  Jan^,  and  another,  the 
!•*  of  March  last,  having  been  intercepted  Here,  were  lately 
brought  to  me;  The  Latter  was  in  the  same  words  with  that 
your  Grace  has  now  transmitted;  and  Both  these  Letters, 
being  of  the  most  dangerous  Nature,  the  King  ordered  me  to 
give  copies  of  them  to  Col"  Webb,  who  was  then  setting  out 
to  take  the  Command  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  America, 
and  to  suggest  to  Him  the  most  probable  m^ans,  that  had 
occurred  to  the  King's  Servants  Here,  for  the  immediate  Dis- 
covery of  the  Authors  of  them : — One  Cap*  George  Croghan, 


*it^' 


muma 


'■mm>,i0' 


^m 


INTERCEI'TEI)   LETTERS,    175fl, 


6dd 


un  Intripruint',  Disutt'ectetl  Person,  iiud  Iiidiim  Tra<ler,  in  Pen- 
sylvjHiia,  was  very  nnich  suspected,  nor  does  the  name  of 
James  Allen,  (probubly  a  Fictitious  one)  subscribiuj;  the  liet- 
ter  to  M'  Gamble  of  Deny,  remove  the  suspicion,  tliere  not 
Xmnu  'Miy  considerable  Person,  us  I  imi  informed,  in  Philadel- 
phiji,  of  that  name;  But  I  beg  your  (Irace  will  inform  yourself, 
upon  what  Foundation  lie  is  thought  to  be  a  Popish  Priest; 
Master  Gamble  being  mentioned,  in  the  Letter,  to  have  desired 
It  might  be  addressed  to  M'  Gamble  of  Derry,  your  Grace 
will  endeavor  to  get  from  llim  some  account  of  that  young 
Man,  and  of  M'  Kedmond  Cunningliam  of  Philadelphia,  in 
case  Ho  is  also  known  to  llim,  and  if  lie  will  write  a  Letter 
or  Letters  to  this  Master  Gamble,  and  M""  Cunningham,  re<iuir- 
Ing  them  to  Jicquain  the  Bearer,  who  lie  was,  that  delivered  to 
them,  in  Philadelphia,  the  Letter,  directed  to  Him,  at  Derry, 
It  may  tend  greatly  to  the  Discovery  of  the  Person  concerned, 
and  it  is  the  King's  Pleasure  that  your  Grace  should  send  me 
those  Letters,  and  the  Kesult  of  your  Enquiries,  by  Express, 
that  Lord  Loudoun,  who  is  still  here,  may  be  instructed 
accordingly. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  to  acquaint  your  Grace,  that  the  King 
extremely  approves  your  Diligence  in  Endeavouring  to  dis- 
cover M'  Zobell,  and  in  Examining  His  Correspondence;  But 
indeed  there  is  Reason  to  imagine,  from  Baron  Hatzell's  Letter 
to  Him,  that  He  is  rather  trying  to  get  a  Subsistance  by  some 
wild  Chymical  Undertaking,  than  by  any  Political  intrigue; 
nor*does  His  having  been  formerly  employed  by  the  King  of 
Prussia  now  give  Beason  for  suspecting  him;  yet.  It  may  not 
be  improper  for  your  Grace  to  continue  your  attention  to  His 
Correspondence,  till  His  real  Occupation  and  Designs  are 
entirely  cleared  up 
I  am  &c* 

H.  Fox 


P.  S.  The  King  has,  this  Day,  signed  the  Instrument  for 
your  Grace's  Leave  of  Absence,  and  the  Appointment  of  the 
Lords  Justices,  Agreeable  to  your  Recommendation,  But  It 
cannot  be  sent  to  you,  till  next  Post,  on  account  of  the  Stamp 
Office  being  shnt,  during  the  Holidays. 
Endorsed: — Dra*  to  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire 

April  20"'  1756 
Secret. 


694 


AMERICAN  HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


14.  THE  DUKE  OF  DEVONSHIRE  TO  HENRY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

I  hav^  this  moment  received  your  Letter  of  the  20"':  I  will 
enrteavcar  to  obey  His  Maj*y»  commands,  with  rejfard  to  M' 
Ganiblc,  with  all  the  Expedition,  and  Punctuality  in  my 
Power. 


Endorsed: 


-Extract  of  a  Letter  from 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire  to 
M"^  Fox. 
Dublin  April  26">  1756 


1«.  WILLIAM  GAMBLE  TO  ROBERT  uaMBLE. 

Copy)  Dublin  April  28»h  1756 

D'  Cous" 

Your  Father  received  a  Letter  from  one  James  Allen  of 
Philadelphia,  covering  a  Lettt^r  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Duke 
de  Mirepoix;  To  tins  Allen  He  (your  Father)  is  a  stranger; 
but  with  Him  you  are  well  acquainted;  therefore  I  intreat  you 
will  take  the  Bearer  hereof  to  said  Allen,  that  he  may  transact 
with  him  some  Business. 

I  shall  be  very  glad  to  hear  soon  and  often  from  you,  being, 

D"^  Bob,  Your  Att'ect'  Uncle 

W"  Gamble 

Directed 

To 

M"^  Eobert  Gamble 

at  M*  Kedm'i  Coningham's  Merch* 
in 

Philadelphia. 
Endorsed : — Copy  of  a  Letter  from  M' 
W"  Gamble  to  M' 
Kob*  Gamble 

Dublin  April  28*''  1756 
The  Original  of  this  Letter  was  given  to  the  Earl  of  Loudoun. 


16.  WILLIAM  GAMBLE  TO  REDMOND  CONYNGIIAM.i 

Copy.  Dublin  April  28t»'  1756 

Sr. 

In  a  Letter  of  the  4"'  Ourr*,  which  I  received  from  my 
Brother  Henry  Gamble  of  Londonderry,  He  sent  me  Two  Let- 

'  Kedramid  Coiiyugliam,  esq.,  of  Lottorkeniiy  in  Irolancl  (whoso  nephew  becair  the 
Loril  Chrtiicvllor  liaion  Phiuket)  canio  to  Pliiladeliihia  in  1755.  ami  was  a  iiieiiiber  of  the 
(\riii  of  J.  M.  Nesbit  &  Co.  Ho  returuetl  to  Irelanil  in  1767.  Panusylvauia  Magazine, 
VI,  18, 19. 


■■m-Mir4tt  Ji4 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,    1756. 


695 


ters,  which  he  desired  I  should  read,  and  consider  well,  as 
l)088ible.y  they  may  be  proper  to  lay  before  His  Grace  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland;  I  accordingly 
])eru8ed  them  carefully,  and  consulted  some  Gentlemen  of 
Distinction  and  Judgement  about  them,  and  tliey  agreed  with 
ine,  that  they  ought  to  be  laid  before  His  Grace,  which  was 
accordingly  done. 

One  of  these  Letters  is  from  one  James  Allen  of  Philadel- 
phia, Covering  a  Letter  for  the  Duke  of  Mirepoix;  which  he 
begs  of  Him  to  forward;  He  acknowledges  Himself  a  stranger 
to  my  Brother,  but  says  He  is  well  acquainted  with  you,  and 
His  son  (whom  he  calls  a  premising  youth)  and  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  you  Two,  He  has  wrote  to  Him,  and  committed 
the  care  of  forwarding  the  Letter  to  the  Duke  de  Mirepoix; 
therefore  It's  reasonable  to  think  that  you  and  my  Nephew  (to 
whom  I  now  write)  are  acquainted  with  said  Allen;  and  as  It's 
thought  necessary  to  examine  this  man  closely,  in  regard  to 
his  Inclosure,  I  now  intreat  your  taking  the  Bearer  hereof  to 
said  Allen,  that  he  may  be  brought  before  proper  people,  who 
may  pick  from  Him  things  of  Consequence  to  the  Country  you 
live  in.    To  a  man  of  your  Principles,  I  need  not  urge  your 
Readiness  to  a  Discovery  of  a  very  evil  Intention  in  this 
Affair,  because  I  am  convinced  you  will  go  about  it  with  the 
greatest  alacrity.    On  this  Head,  or  any  other,  I  shall  be  glad 
to  hear  from  you,  being. 
Dear  Sr. 

Your  most  Obed*  Serv*. 


W™  Gamble 


Directed 
To 


M"^  Eedm'^  Coningliam,  Merch' 

in 

Philadelphia 

Endorsed :— Copy  of  a  Letter  from  M' 
W"  Gamble  to  M' 
Hedm'i  Coningham 

Dublin  April  28*''  1756 
The  Original  of  this  Letter  was  given  to  the  Earl  of  Lou- 
doun. 


696 


AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


It.  THE  DUKE   OF  DEVONSHIRE  TO  HENRY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

I  send  you  a  copy  of  another  Letter  from  the  same  Person 
to  the  D.  de  Mirepoix:  M^^  Gamble  at  Deriy  opened  it,  and 
sent  only  a  Copy;  I  have  wrote  for  the  Original,  and  desired, 
that,  if  any  more  Letters  come.  He  would  send  them  to  me 
unopened. 
Endorsed : — Extract  of  a  Letter  from  the 

Duke  of  Devonshire  to  M'^  Fox 

Dublin  May  S'l'  1756 


1§.  THE  EARL  OF  HALIFAX  TO  HENRY  FOX. 

Bushey  Park* 

May  the  9^^  1756 
Dear  Sir 

I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the  sight  of  the  last  iT»tercepted  Let- 
ter transmitted  to  you  by  his  Grace  the  l''nk^  >  Devonshire 
in  his  Letter  of  tlie  3'^  of  May,  which  I  this  uay  received  at 
Bushey;  and  will  trouble  you  with  a  few  Eemarks  I  hpve 
made  on  it,  necessary  for  My  Lord  Loudoun's  Information,  tho' 
very  probably  you  have  already  made  the  same. 

I  think  we  had  so  many  data  in  the  former  Letters,  that  it 
wou'd  not  have  been  possible  for  the  author  to  Escape  Detec- 
tion, but  in  the  last  there  are  some  very  remarkable  ones. 

In  the  first  Place  he  says  he  has  communicated  the  Plan  of 
his  Treachery  to  ten  of  his  OflBcers,  by  which  (if  true)  it  ap- 
pears that  he  must  have  the  command  of  a  Eegiment  at  least. 

He  says  the  said  ten  Officers  assure  him  that  most  of  the 
men  they  have  enlisted  are  Human  Oatholicks;  upon  which  I 
would  submit  to  you  whether  it  woud  not  be  right  to  « luia- 
meud  to  Lord  Loudoun  to  send  an  officer  or  two  whom  '  na 
trust  to  Examine  into  the  Character  of  the  men  enlist<^d  f  '^  .¥■ 
ten  Officers  under  the  Author's  Command,  and  to  dismiss  Lm.  I« 
as  are  known  or  strongly  suspected  to  be  Papists. 

He  says  the  Governments  to  the  Westward  have  highly  ap- 
plauded the  Secrecy  and  Dispatch  with  which  he  has  enlisted 
men,  it  will  be  easily  known  whom  the  Governors  to  the  West- 
ward have  so  applauded,  and  who  has  been  authorised  to  raise 
men  in  their  Governments. 

He  tells  the  Duke  of  Mirepoix  that  the  Quakers  ?n  Pensyl- 
vania  have  given  their  consent  to  his  raising  men  there;  by 


» The  Earl  of  Halifax  was  ranger  of  Bu»hey  Park  from  17^9  to  17i"i. 


V 


\ 


■ 


f' 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,  1159. 


697 


which  the  Doubt  we  were  in  concerning  the  Province  in  which 
the  Gentleman  was  einploy'd  in  raising  men  is  cleared  up. 

If  he  has  complained,  as  he  says  he  has,  to  the  Assembly  of 
Pensylvania  of  Shirley  and  Dunbar's  officers  raising  Becruits 
in  that  Province,  when  they  are  wanted  for  the  Service  to  the 
Westward,  it  will  be  very  easily  known  who  the  Gentleman  is 
who  has  made  these  Complaints  to  the  Assembly. 

if  he  has  already  raised,  as  he  says  he  has,  1800  men,  Ger- 
mans and  Irish,  and  expects  soon  to  have  2000  more,  he  must 
be  of  a  Character  and  Authority  not  to  be  mistaken.  ' 

If  most  of  the  able  bodied  Acadians  as  he  assures  the  Duke 
of  Mirepoix,  have  flo(!ked  to  him,  I  submit  it  to  you  whether 
My  Lord  Loudoun  should  not  be  directed  to  make  diligent 
Enquiry  into  the  matter,  and  immediately  discharge  them 
from  his  Majesty's  Service.  And  as  he  likewise  says  that  some 
in  Shirley  and  Johnson's  Army  are  in  his  Interest,  and  are  now 
privately  fomenting  Discontents  among  the  Soldiers,  I  would 
submit  to  you  whether  My  Lord  Loudoun  shoud  not  have  an 
Hint  to  be  in  an  Extraordinary  manner  watchful  on  this 
Head. 

I  have  but  one  other  remark  to  make,  and  that  is  on  his  say- 
ing he  is  order'd  to  carry  Fire  and  Sword  as  far  as  he  can ; 
which,  if  true,  seems  to  intimate  pretty  clearly  that  he  is  to 
have  the  Command  of  the  Expedition. 

In  the  Letters  you  sent  me  the  other  Day  M"^  Shirley  tells 
you  that  M"^  Sharpe  Governor  of  Maryland  is  to  Command  the 
Western  Expedition. 

I  send  you  these  Eemarks  as  short  as  I  can  because  I  woud 
not  take  up  more  of  your  Time  than  is  necessary  and  am 
Dear  Sir 
Your  Most  Faithfull 

and  Obebient  Humb'  Servant 

Dunk  Halifax 

Endorsed : — E.  of  Halifax 
May  9, 1756 
To  be  sent  to  Lord  Loudoun 


19.  COLONEL  DANIEL  WEHB  TO  HENRY  FOX. 

New  York  June  17"'  1756 
Sir, 

Having  sailed  in  the  Gen^  Wall  Packet  from  Falmouth  the 
IS*''  of  April,  and  having  had  a  passage  of  eight  weeks,  I  did 
not  arrive  h(  re  till  the  7"'  iust;  but  immediately  on  my  arrival 


0^  1 


698 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


r 


forwarded  by  express,  the  Dispatches  I  had  the  Honour  to  be 
charged  with  for  General  Siiirley,  to  Albany,  where  he  has 
been  for  about  a  month,  I  at  the  same  time  informed  him  of 
my  intentions  to  proceed  thither  in  Ave  or  six  days,  his  expect- 
ing to  see  me  so  soon,  has  probably  been  the  cause  I  have  not 
yet  heard  from  him,  or  it  may  be  for  want  pf  opportunity  as 
there  is  no  post  established  betwixt  this  place  and  that,  all 
letters  going  by  the  Sloops  tbat  so  frequently  pass  and  repass. 
1  should  have  proceeded  according  to  my  first  intentions  if  a 
ship  from  Carolina  had  not  assured  us  of  having  seen  the  fleet 
from  Plimouth  fifty  Leagues  from  tlie  Coast  and  becalmed,  and 
his  intelligence  has  seemingly  proved  true,  by  the  arrival  yes- 
terday of  Major  Genl  Abercrombie^  and  all  the  transports 
excepting  one  with  two  Companys  of  the  Highland  Reg*,  which 
was  seperated  in  a  hard  gale  ten  days  ago,  another  ship  with 
five  Companys  of  that  Reg'  was  seperated  at  the  same  time, 
but  she  is  come  into  the  mouth  of  the  river  this  morning. 

The  Harriot  Packet  that  took  up  the  Germain  Commission 
and  non  Commission  Officers  at  Dover,  arrived  the  day  before 
the  transports,  and  were  on  the  point  of  proceeding  to  Pensil- 
vania  under  the  care  of  Maior  Rutherford,  when  we  had  an 
account  of  Gen'  Abercrombies  being  Anchored  at  the  entrance 
of  this  harbour. 

On  my  communicating  the  intercepted  letters  to  Sir  Charles 
Hardy,  he  was  very  much  surprised,  and  equally  pusied,  and 
is  still  at  a  loss  what  to  conclude  on  the  whole,  and  will  give  a 
fuller  account  by  the  Packet  which  he  proposes  to  Dispatch 
for  England  a  Monday  next  the  21**  instant,  than  it  would  be 
prudent  to  trust  by  a  common  merchant  ship,  I  shall  trouble 
you  with  a  Duplicate  by  the  Packet,  in  order  to  have  a  double 
chance  of  y^  receiving  it  the  sooner,  this  is  the  first  ship  for 
England  since  my  arrival, 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be 

with  the  greatest  esteem.  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  and 
most  humble  servant 


Dan'  Webb. 


M"^  jb'ox 

Indorsed : — New  York 

June  IT*!'  1756 
Coll  Webb 

Ri  July  26*" 


'  Aborcromblo  wns  to  take  the  chief  command  from  Webb  and  to  hold  it  till  the  arrival 
of  Loudoun. 


mm 


■IHPH 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,  1756. 


699 


itO.  THE  EARL  OF  LOUDOUN  TO  HENRY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

I  have  not  had  it  in  my  Power  to  do  anything  about  the 
Intercepted  Letters ;  before  I  arrived  M'  Webb  had  talked  that 
affair  over  with  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  but  they  could  iind  nothing 
from  any  lights  it  gave  them,  nor  could  1  on  my  tirat  arrival, 
but  lately  1  Iind  from  M'  Oragou,  that  there  were  some  People 
in  Pensilvania,  who  were  going  off  to  the  French,  and  some  of 
them  were  stopt;  but  this  scene  lies  in  Pensilvania,  and  as 
some  of  the  People,  I  am  informed  were  brought  before  Magis- 
trates, it  must  be  known  both  to  M'  Shirley  and  (lovornor 
Morris,  so  you  certainly  must  have  had  accounts  of  it,  since  I 
left  London. 

I  do  not  chuse  to  make  a  noise  till  I  have  further  lights,  but 
the  moment  I  can  get  to  Pensilvania,  I  will  endeavour  to  bring 
to  light,  whatever  I  can  come  at  in  this  affair. 

I  find  Barron  Leake  &c&c'  who  was  a  soldier  in  Major 
General  Shirley's  Kegiraent,  was  taken  up  in  Jersey,  and 
Papers  and  Plans  found  on  him,  and  Commissions,  but  was 
discharged,  as  a  Soldier  on  Furlough  in  M-^  Shirley's  Regiment, 
he  went  then  back  to  Pensilvania,  and  1  have  never  been  able 
to  learn,  whether  he  went  to  the  Regiment  at  Oswego,  or 
deserted,  but  when  we  come  to  make  an  Enquiry,  into  the 
affairs  of  that  Regiment,  I  shall  endeavour  to  find  this  out." 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Loudoun  to  The  Right 
Hon'*'''  Henry  Fox. 

Dated  Albany  Ocf^  S-i  1756 


}    ^ 


31.  THE  EARL  OF  LOUDOUN  TO  HENRY  FOX. 

New  York  January  4:*-^  1757 
Sir, 

I  have  the  honor  of  your  Letter  of  October  2'',  by  the  Packet, 
in  which  you  acquaint  me,  that  His  Majesty  had  been  pleased, 
to  Order  Major  General  O'Farrell's  Reginient,  and  the  twenty 
four  additional  Companies  from  Ireland,  to  New  York.  I  have 
prepared  Quarters  for  them  here,  and  in  the  Villages  on  Long 
Island,  and  in  this  Neighbourhood. 

I  shall  immediately  on  their  Arrival,  eorapleat  Major  General 
O'Farrell's  Regiment,  to  one  thousand  Men,  and  altho'  I  have 
reason  to  Imagine,  that  the  three  Regiments  in  Nova  Scotia, 


'  See  postsiript  to  No.  7,  ante. 


700 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCtATtON. 


I 


\i 


are  very  near  compleat,  if  not  quite  80,  as  by  tlieir  returns  to 
me  of  the  !•*  of  October,  tbey  wanted  but  two  hundred  and 
eighty  two  men  to  compleat  them  to  the  numbers  expected ; 
and  one  Regiment  there  Has  since  that,  received  one  Hundred 
Men,  and  a  great  many  Recruits  gone  to  the  other  Regiments 
the  numbers  of  which  I  do  not  exactly  know,  but  after  enquir- 
ing of  Captain  Ooterell,  who  is  Secretary  to  the  Province,  at 
present  here,  for  the  Recovery  of  his  Health,  I  shall  reserve  for 
those  Regiments  three  hundred  men,  and  shall  send  them  to 
Halifax  as  soon  as  I  can  with  safety;  the  remainder  shall 
divide  among  the  Troops  here,  according  as  I  find  them,  when 
they  arrive. 

Last  night,  one  of  the  Transports  was  off  the  Land  and  got 
a  Pilote  on  board ;  as  it  blew  very  hard  off  the  I^and,  she  could 
not  get  in;  but  I  do  not  apprehend  any  danger;  the  People  in 
the  pilote  boat  acquaint  me,  that  they  told  them,  they  had 
parted  from  the  Fleet  about  ten  days  ago,  and  that  they  had 
two  hundred  and  Fifty  soldiers  aboard,  which  was  all  he  could 
hear. 

On  the  first  of  this  month  we  got  Intelligence  from  a  Mer- 
chant in  New  York,  that  a  Gentleman  at  Philadelphia,  in  the 
Coffee  House,  about  a  fortnight  ago  enquired  if  there  was  a 
Letter  at  the  Post  Office  here  directed  for  Pierre  Fidel,  and  on 
being  told  there  was,  said  he  wished  he  would  forward  it  to 
him,  as  the  Gentleman  for  whom  it  was  directed,  is  now  on  the 
Frontiers,  the  Merchant  did  not  know  the  Man,  but  says,  he 
was  dressed  like  an  Officer,  and  thinks  he  is  a  Stranger.  This 
Intelligence  came  to  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  and  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing I  sent  off  Colonel  Stanwix,  and  the  Merchant  to  point  out 
the  Man,  with  Orders,  if  he  is  still  there,  to  secure  him  and 
his  Papers,  and  all  such  Persons  as  appear,  either  from  examin- 
ing him,  or  from  his  Papers,  to  be  engaged  with  him. 

Before  the  Information  arrived,  M"^  Webb  was  going  to  Phil- 
adelphia, to  take  command  of  the  Troops,  and  to  enquire  after 
an  Account,  I  mentioned  to  you  in  a  former  Letter,  I  had  of  a 
number  of  Men,  that  had  assembled  and  marched  off,  to  join 
the  Enemy,  that  they  had  been  pursued  and  taken ;  but  I  do 
not  find,  that  any  one  was  ever  punished  for  this,  or  that  it 
has  ever  been  reported  to  the  Government  at  home;  but  M' 
Webb  has  been  so  much  out  of  order,  for  ten  days,  that  it  was 
not  in  his  Power,  to  undertake  the  journey.  I  hope  Colonel 
Stan  «f  ix  may  be  there  this  night,  tho'  the  snow  is  very  deep, 


..'A.  ■*- 


Wm^mm 


■ggggup^ 


Ks:: 


?1 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,  1756, 


701 


all  over  the  Country,  which  makes  Travelling  very  tedious  at 
X)resent. 

On  the  5*''  at  night,  the  Transport  I  mentioned  above,  arrived 
here;  she  proves  to  be  the  Baltimore;  Colonel  Rolls  is  on 
board,  by  whom  I  am  informed,  the;^  *ailed  from  Cork  Novem- 
ber 6"-,  and  parted  with  the  Fleet  on  the  18"',  in  a  hard  Gale 
of  Wind,  before  they  reached  the  Western  Islands;  they  have 
in  her,  one  hundred  and  Seventy  Eight  Soldiers,  and  acquaints 
me,  that  the  whole  amount  to  Seventeen  hundred.  They  have 
taken  in  their  Voiage,  the  S'  Vincent,  of  Bourdeaux,  and 
retook  the  Muscovy  belonging  to  London,  coming  from 
Jamaica,  and  bound  to  London. 

I  shall  mention  nothing  of  the  drafts,  till  I  see  them,  and 
when  Colonel  Prevost  arrives,  who  has  the  different  returns  of 
them,  from  their  llegiment,  I  shall  send  you  a  propper  return 
of  their  numbers,  and  what  they  are. 

As  I  must  set  out  on  Saturday  Morning  for  Boston  I  shall 
only  add,  that  I  am  most  impatient  to  know,  how  the  General 
plan  I  proposed  for  next  Campaign  is  approved  of,  because, 
according  to  the  p!an  that  is  to  be  execmted,  the  preparations 
must  be  made,  and  will  be  extremely  different  for  different 
Flans. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  greatest  Bespect. 

Sir, 

Your  Most  Obedient  and 

Most  Humble  Servant 

Loudoun 

The  Eight  Hon"!*"  Henry  Fox 

Endorsed:— New  York,  Jan^  4'"  1767 

Earl  of  Loudoun 

RFebyll*" 


93.  TFi  EARL  OP  LOUDOUN  TO  HENRY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

"Last  night,  I  had  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Stanwix,  dated 
Philadelphia,  January  10"',  by  which  I  find,  the  Person  he 
went  in  search  of,  had  nc  J  then  appeared;  that  he  was  still  in 
Search  after  him,  privately : " 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Loudon  to  the  Bight 
Hon"*  Henry  Fox 

Dated  Boston  Jan^  25'"  1757. 


if 


702 


AMERICAN  HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


\l 


I 


93.  THE  EARL  OP  LOUDOUN  TO  HENKY  FOX  (EXTRACT). 

"  When  I  was  .it  Pensilvania,  I  found  the  French  Neutrals 
there,  had  been  very  mutinous,  and  had  threatened  to  leave 
the  Women  and  Children,  and  go  over  and  join  the  Freneh  in 
the  back  Country.  They  sent  me  a  Memorial  in  French  setting 
forth  their  Grievances;  I  returned  it,  and  said  1  could  receive 
no  Memorial  from  the  Kings  Subjects  but  in  English,  on  which 
they  had  a  general  Meeting,  at  which  they  determined,  they 
would  give  no  Memorial  but  in  French,  and  as  I  am  informed, 
they  come  to  this  resolution,  from  looking  on  themselves 
entirely  as  French  Subjects. 

Captain  Cottcrcll,  who  is  Secretary  for  the  Province  of  iNova 
Scotia,  and  is  in  this  Country  for  the  recovery  of  his  Health, 
found  among  those  Neutrals,  one  who  had  been  a  Spie  of  Colo- 
nel Cornwallis,'  and  afterwards  of  Governor  Lawrence,''  who 
he  tells  me  had  behaved  well,  both  in  giving  accounts  of  what 
those  People  were  doing,  and  in  bringing  them  Intelligence  of 
the  Situation  and  Strength  of  th*)  French  Forts,  and  in  partic- 
ular of  Beausejour:  by  this  man  I  learnt,  that  there  were  five 
principal  leading  men  among  them,  who  stir  up  all  the  disturb- 
ance tliese  People  make  in  Pensilvania,  and  who  persuade 
them  to  go  and  join  the  Enemy,  and  who  prevent  them  from 
Submitting  to  anj-^  regulation  made  in  the  Country,  and  to 
allow  their  Children  to  be  put  out  to  work. 

On  finding  this  to  be  the  case,  I  thought  it  necessary  for 
me,  to  prevent  as  far  as  I  possibly  could,  such  a  Junction  to 
the  Enemy;  On  which  I  secured  those  Ave  ringleAders,  and 
put  them  on  board  Captain  Falkinghams  Ship,  the  Sutherland, 
in  order  to  his  carrying  them  to  England,  to  be  disposed  of  as 
His  Majestys  Servants  shall  think  proi)er-  but  I  must  inform 
you,  that  if  they  are  turned  loose,  they  will  directly  return, 
and  continue  to  raise  all  the  disturbance  in  their  Power;  there- 
fore it  appears  to  me,  that  the  Safest  way  of  keeping  them, 
would  be  to  Employ  them  as  Sailors  on  board  Ships  of  War." 

"In  a  former  Letter  I  acquainted  you  of  the  Intelligence  we 
had  received,  Of  a  Person  at  Philadelphia,  enquiring  for  the 
Letter  directed  to  Pierre  Fidel,  and  the  steps  taken  to  discover 
and  apprehend  him ;  that  miscarried,  and  we  could  never  dis- 


'  Edward  Cornwallis  (1713-1776),  afterwards  general  (brother  of  tlie  archbishop  and 
uncle  of  tlio  famous  marquis),  was  governor  of  Kova  Scotia  from  1749  to  1762. 
*  Col.  Charles  Lawrence  governed  Kova  Scotia  from  1753  to  1760. 


P7 


^ 


INTERCEPTED   LETTERS,  1756. 


703 


cover,  who  the  Person  was  that  made  the  enquiry,  or  what  is 
become  of  him. 

By  the  Indian  Intelligence,  from  Sir  William  Johnson  en- 
closed, you  will  see,  that  there  are  reports,  of  the  People  at  the 
German  Flatts  negotiating  with  the  French;  Tliey  are  there 
at  a  great  distance,  and  still  more  disobedient  to  Government, 
than  those  that  live  nearer;  but  as  yet  we  have  not  been  able, 
to  fix  on  any  of  them  with  (iertainty:  Ensign  Wendel,  who  is 
named  tliere,  came  to  me  a  few  days  before  this  Intelligence 
arrived,  and  threw  up  his  half  pay,  rather  than  run  the  risk  of 
being  employed  again  as  an  officer:  On  this  Intelligence,  I 
sent  immediately  and  secured  him  and  his  Papers,  and  was  in 
hopes  by  him,  both  to  have  discovered  what  there  was  in  that 
correspondence,  and  likewise  to  have  got  some  lights,  into  the 
affairs  mentioned  in  the  intercepted  Letters. 

When  he  arrived,  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  Major  General  Aber- 
cromby  and  i,  searched  his  Papers,  but  nothing  appeared.  I 
then  acquainted  him,  of  our  having  discover'd  his  correspond- 
ence last  Summer  with  the  enemy,  from  the  German  Flatts; 
and  likewise  of  his  Correspondence  and  Engagements  the  year 

before. 

He  immediately  acquainted  us  with  the  Letter  he  writ,  which 
was  to  a  Cousin  of  his.  Ensign  Schuyler,  who  was  taken  Pris- 
oner at  Oswego,  telling  him,  that  all  his  friends  were  well,  and 
employed  building  a  Fort;  told  us  of  the  Indian  he  gave  it  to, 
who  was  going  to  Canada  from  the  Indians,  which  agrees  with 
the  Information;  Said  he  was  sorry  if  that  gave  offense;  That 
he  writ  the  Letter  at  the  Table,  in  the  Place  where  he  Messed 
with  several  other  Officers  of  the  Regiment  there.— As  this 
seem'd  to  be  an  Imprudence,  arising  from  Ignorance,  and  noth 
ing  further  appearing  against  him,  we  have  dismissed  him." 

Extracts  from  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Loudoun  to  the  Right 
J  joQbie  William  Pitt 

Dated  New  York,  April  25t»'  1757. 


